First Date

•Written when she was 66 years old – the date seems to be between two middle-aged people

•Considered contemporary poet, but favours traditional structures and rhyme schemes –used in 1st Date

•Her poems are usually witty, humorous and sarcastic –as seen in 1st Date

•Critics often dismiss her work as lightweight

•Often writes from a heterosexual single female perspective (as in 1st date) and men are often the target of her humour.

• Interestingly, 1st Date allows both viewpoints ( two interior monologues) perhaps likening men and women’s views on relationships.

• Understated feminist – but in the poem ‘he’ has an two extra stanzas and traditional attitudes to dating are evident.

•Private school educated – middle class – as are the he and she of the poem (references to classical music / colloquialisms used)