Getting Out
Cleopatra Mathis

The last line of this poem is both literal and figurative. In the few lines before it, the speaker says that the lawyer was confused when they cried the last day of their marriage. Most people would think that they would be happy to let go. However, "we held on tight, and let go" signifies that they tried to work out the problems in their marriage. They "held tight" as long as they could, but when they couldn't find a way to work things out they "let go" which is represented by the crying. The literal meaning of this last line would be that when they were crying they held each other tight and then let go. They let their marriage go and moved on as shown by the " yearly letters." The man says that he is happy, therefore he let go of their marriage as did she. However, while they were still married they tried to work it out. It just didn't work. Therefore, now they are divorced and every once in a while she is "startled by men who look like you."