The poem, The Fledgling, describes the protagonist’s emotional coming–of–age. Using the imagery of the little finger that is nestled in the shelter of the broad palm, the poet brings out a young woman’s need for an emotional prop. The finger wobbled and shook when it is severed from the palm and braved the fury of passion and spit of venom. At last, it came into its own and stretched in contentment.  How? What gave it strength? Read on/ Listen in….