To answer this question concerning Alicia Ostriker's poem titled “Wrong About the Horse," first gain an in-depth look into what poetic voice is and how it functions within verse. Then, examine each speaker within the poem and think about how they amplify certain ideas or evoke specific emotions.

First, recall that, in poetry, voice represents the words and expressions of a particular speaker. The speaker may be the poet or another narrator. There can be multiple speakers within a poem, and they can be human or non-human. By examining poetic voice, one can gain a better understanding of each speaker's feelings, perspectives, motivations, and desires. Moreover, by examining poetic voice, one can analyze how a poet manipulates diction, imagery, syntax, rhyme, and rhythm to capture the essence of a speaker.

Second, note that there are multiple voices in “Wrong About the Horse," and these voices change from stanza to stanza. The first stanza features a third-person speaker who describes the plight of a resentful old woman. The second stanza features a first-person speaker, a red tulip, who detaches itself from expectations; this, it claims, prevents it from experiencing betrayal. And the last stanza features another first-person speaker, a dog, who embraces competition and does not associate rivalry with betrayal. As the speakers change, they build off one another's ideas, resembling a conversation.

When analyzing how voice is used effectively in this poem, think about how each speaker's thoughts present distinct ideas yet coalesce to illustrate the poem's overarching themes and messages.