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Classic and Contemporary Poetry
TO THE PEACOCK OF FRANCE, by MARIANNE MOORE Poet Analysis Poet's Biography
First Line: In 'taking charge of your possessions when you saw them'
Last Line: Tail was unfurled.
Variant Title(s): French Peacock
Subject(s): Moliere (jean Poquelin) (1622-1673)
First Line: In 'taking charge of your possessions when you saw them'
Last Line: Tail was unfurled.
Variant Title(s): French Peacock
Subject(s): Moliere (jean Poquelin) (1622-1673)
IN "taking charge of your possessions when you saw them," you became a golden
jay.
Scaramouche said you charmed his charm away,
But not his colour? Yes, his colour when you liked.
Of chiselled setting and black-opalescent dye,
You were the jewelry of sense;
Of sense, not license; you but trod the pace
Of liberty in market-place
And court. Molière,
The huggermugger repertory of your first adventure, is your own affair.
"Anchorites do not dwell in theatres," and peacocks do not flourish in a cell.
Why make distinctions? The results were well
When you were on the boards; nor were your triumphs bought
At horrifying sacrifice of stringency.
You hated sham; you ranted up
And down through the conventions of excess;
Nor did the King love you the less
Nor did the world,
In whose chief interest and for whose spontaneous delight, your broad
tail was unfurled.
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