Metaphors

After reading the first line of this poem, "I'm a riddle in nine syllables" (Plath, pg. 717), I thought to myself, what could she possibly mean by that? After reading the poem, and re-reading it, I discovered that each line had, shockingly enough, a total of nine syllables! And to top it off, their were nine lines! After my mind was blown, I asked, why? Sylvia Plath had created an entire beautiful, meaningful and deep poem using nine syllables for each line. Nine didn't necessarily mean to much to me or to anybody else I know-except for how long pregnancy is in regards to months. Feeling like Sherlock himself, I went back and re-read the poem yet again to discover that Plath was indeed referring to pregnancy. Everything in the poem refers to how large she has grown, with phrases such as "fat purse", "melon strolling on two tendrils"-all side affects to the phenomenon itself. 

The image in particular that is very striking is the last line. "Boarded the train theres no getting off". It almost gives a sightly negative connotation, as if she wants to get off the train. She doesn't want to board this train but there isn't a choice for her. The train, which most likely means pregnancy, is one that is not appealing to Plath and there will be no turning back. Basically, it means what's done is done, good or bad, and it's time to simply accept the ride.