What is the meaning of the poem about the master and the swallowed key?

Here are the answers to your questions based on the poem: 1. The person saying "Don't ask, Don't tell" was the master or the captor, as indicated by the line, "'Don't ask, Don't tell,' he said to me." 2. The person was saying that to enforce silence and secrecy, preventing the captive from questioning their situation or revealing the injustice of their bondage. 3. The slave was being held captive in chains, with their freedom denied. The master had swallowed the key, symbolizing a permanent and inescapable state of enslavement. 4. The poem suggests the slaves were in a place of confinement or imprisonment, likely a slave quarter or a similar oppressive environment where they were kept in chains. 5. Given the context of captivity and the master's command, the slave likely felt fear, helplessness, and despair when the master passed by. 6. The line "Night after day and day after night" suggests that these things happened continuously, indicating a relentless and unending period of suffering and captivity. 7. No, a rusted key would not easily unlock the chains. The poem mentions "rusted stains" on the irons, and the key itself was swallowed, making it inaccessible and likely unusable even if retrieved. 8. If the master forgot he swallowed the key, the slave would remain permanently locked in chains, as there would be no means to unlock them. The master's forgetfulness would only reinforce the slave's inescapable bondage. 9. If someone said "Don't ask and Don't tell" to me, I would feel frustrated, silenced, and suspicious. It would imply a lack of transparency and an attempt to hide something important, denying my right to inquire or express myself. That's 2 down. 3 left today — send the next one.