The Day Lady Died Society and Class Quotes Page 2

Wow, this guy is confident. He just "strolls into" the liquor store, like he owns the place, and is like, "I need some Strega," which is a fancy Italian liquor you've probably never heard of. (We certainly hadn't.) He oozes nonchalance and casual good taste.

For most of the poem, the speaker seems hip and self-confident. But here at the end, he's suddenly completely powerless, and even his ability to breath is at the mercy of Billie Holiday's incredible performance.