Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE WISE WOMAN, by LOUIS UNTERMEYER Poem Explanation Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: His eyes grow hot, his words grow wild Last Line: Who understands him. Alternate Author Name(s): Lewis, Michael Subject(s): Man-woman Relationships; Marriage; Male-female Relations; Weddings; Husbands; Wives | ||||||||
His eyes grow hot, his words grow wild; He swears to break the mold and leave her. She smiles at him as at a child That's touched with fever. She smooths his ruffled wings, she leans To comfort, pamper and restore him. And when he sulks or scowls she preens His feathers for him. He hungers after stale regrets, Nourished by what she offers gaily; And all he thinks he never gets She feeds him daily. He lusts for freedom, cries how long Must he be bound by what controlled him; Yet he is glad the chains are strong And that they hold him. She knows he feels all this but she Is far too wise to let him know it; He likes to nurse the agony That fits a poet. He grins to see her shape his life, When she half-coaxes, half-commands him. And groans it's hard to have a wife Who understands him. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...A BLESSING FOR A WEDDING by JANE HIRSHFIELD A SUITE FOR MARRIAGE by DAVID IGNATOW ADVICE TO HER SON ON MARRIAGE by MARY BARBER THE RABBI'S SON-IN-LAW by SABINE BARING-GOULD KISSING AGAIN by DORIANNE LAUX A TIME PAST by DENISE LEVERTOV A BIRTHDAY by LOUIS UNTERMEYER A VOICE FROM THE SWEAT-SHOPS (A HYMN WITH RESPONSES) by LOUIS UNTERMEYER |
|