The Speaker
The speaker in "Basket of Figs" communicates to her lover that she is a safe haven where her lover can bring forth all of her pain. Using imperatives such as "Bring me," "Spread it," and "Show me," the speaker then illustrates these instructions using sensual metaphors. This shows that the speaker is an authority, but one that is not controlling or dominant. Rather, she is confident that she can hold space for unconditional love. Pain is not something that most people consider beautiful, but this speaker compares her lover's pain to beautiful things such as handmade embroidery, delicious foods, and valuable jewelry.
Speakers should not be equated to the poet, but this poem is written by a lesbian poet and included in a collection that won the Lambda Literary Award—marking it as an important LGBTQ work. Thus it can be said that though the concepts of unconditional and sensual love have universal appeal, "Basket of Figs" also specifically portrays a lesbian couple.
The Lover
The lover is evoked throughout the poem by the speaker, which means that the only portrait readers have of this character is through the eyes of the speaker. The lover is encouraged by the speaker to divulge everything that has hurt her. Not only is the lover's pain acceptable to the speaker, but it is also beautiful. The lover's pain is compared to intricate embroidery, fine foods, and gold jewelry. At the end of the poem, the speaker conveys a willingness to carry her lover's pain tenderly in her mouth "as a great animal might / carry a small one." This means that the lover is invited to overcome any boundaries and be completely vulnerable within this relationship.
