In "Poems By Women" (Dacia Maraini), can my green-eyed friend" really be considered a metaphor? Please explain. It may be true, I reply. But you...

In the
context of the entire poem entitled "Poems By Women," by Dacia Maraini, "my
green-eyed friend" can indeed be considered a .

It may seem to literally
mean that the man she is speaking to has green eyes, for the author does briefly describe the
man...

...a kindly round-eyed critic tells me.

However, there are several things that prompt me to perceive that
there is more to the poem that what is read if one looks for the figurativewhat is implied.
"Round-eyed" is often associated with a childsometimes one with look of wonder or
surprise, perhaps with a sense of innocence or hope. For example, poet Ujoo Noguchi, in his poem
"Seven Baby Crows," writes "Iiko da yo" which translates to
"round-eyed, good children." As another example, Rabindranath Tagore's poem,
"Stray Birds 77" refers to hope, and it is presented with a picture of such a
child:

"Every child," he writes, "comes
with the message that God is not yet discouraged of man." Below the poem is a photo of a
round-eyed...