Lydia H.’s poem, “What Is a Woman?” captivates the reader from the start. From the repetition to a steady beat, it is an intricate work of poetry. Lydia defines what a woman is from different viewpoints. With connotations ranging from being a gorgeous goddess, to being a wicked seductress, Lydia catches just a glimpse of how people would define a woman. Just reading a stanza in this poem will encase an audience and keep them intrigued.
     

As a young woman in today’s society, we are constantly being told what we are, or what we should be. We are either portrayed as the epitome of grace and love and nurture, or as a cold, emotional mess. This poem clearly shows how both are considered standard personalities of women, even if it is not who we truly are. “She seduces, she destroys, she inspires. She is everything but herself.” These two lines are the true meaning of the poem; that we are characterized as anything but what we truly are.