Carole Satymurti’s “I Shall Paint my Nails Red” is a wonderful poem which I found myself closely relating to. I feel that in this poem she reflects many sides of a woman’s life. It may be understood to have two separate messages, the direct and the hidden message. Satymurti does this through showing both the complexity of a woman’s life, and the simplicity that also exists within. At first glance, “I Shall Paint My Nails Red” gives a more obvious and direct amusing message in which she states different reasons why she would paint her nails red. Each line puts the reader in a different situation which may even be applied to our own daily lives. Satymurti does this by using every day examples and using them to suggest often absurd reasons for her to paint her nails red, adding a bit of comedy throughout the poem. Underlying each idea, however, Satymurti implies a deeper message about women and the many roles that they play in society, and the way that they view themselves. The first idea Satymurti suggests in the poem is, “Because a bit of colour is public service”. Here, she is implying that in painting her nails red she is in fact doing others a favor. This line makes me think of a woman loading her groceries onto the cash register before paying, showing off her bright red nails and provoking a smile on the cashiers face. She seems to believe that anywhere she were to go with these red nails, the world would see them and appreciate them. Underlying this main idea however, I feel that Satymurti is trying to portray the fact that women are constantly fulfilling others needs. As mothers, wives, lovers, and even working women in society, women often feel that we must make everyone around us happy. The following line states, “Because I am proud of my hands”. This idea suggests that she feels she is beautiful and is proud to show that off. However, the line may