Give evidence from the poem to support that the speaker is the poet herself.
The speaker in the poem is the poet herself, which is clearly supported by the consistent use of first-person pronouns like "I" and "my". Lines such as "I need when I feel blue" and "lifts my spirits" directly express the poet's personal emotions and her own dependence on music.
Additionally, the subjective experiences described are highly personal. The speaker mentions music easing her "ache" and serving as her "needed friend" when there is no one else to turn to. The poet's diary entry further confirms this by stating, "how essential music is to me" and thanking music for being "my all-time comfort," proving the speaker is sharing her own intimate feelings.
Explanation
The question asks for evidence that the speaker is the poet herself. The context provides two main clues: the poem's use of first-person perspective and the accompanying diary entry. By pointing out the pronouns ('I', 'my') and the personal emotional stakes ('feel blue', 'my spirits'), the student proves the subjective nature of the poem. The diary entry explicitly frames these feelings as the poet's own ('essential music is to me', 'my all-time comfort'), cementing the connection between the speaker's voice and the poet's identity.
Solution Steps
Step 1: Identify the use of first-person pronouns in the poem (I, my) that indicate a personal voice.
Step 2: Quote specific lines showing personal emotional experiences (e.g., 'I feel blue', 'lifts my spirits').
Step 3: Reference the poet's diary entry from the context ('essential music is to me', 'my all-time comfort') to directly link the speaker's feelings to the poet herself.