Classic and Contemporary Poetry
VASHTI, by FRANCES ELLEN WATKINS HARPER Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: She leaned her head upon her hand Last Line: But would not bow to shame. Subject(s): Women; Women's Rights; Feminism | ||||||||
She leaned her head upon her hand And heard the king's decree -- "My lords are feasting in my halls, Bid Vashti come to me. "I've shown the treasures of my house, My costly jewels rare, But with the glory of her eyes No rubies can compare. "Adorned and crowned I'd have her come, With all her queenly grace, And, 'mid my lords and mighty men, Unveil her lovely face. "Each gem that sparkles in my crown, Or glitters on my throne, Grows poor and pale when she appears, My beautiful, my own!" All waiting stood the chamberlains To hear the Queen's reply, They saw her check grow deathly pale, But light flashed to her eye: "Go tell the King," she proudly said, "That I am Persia's Queen, And by his crowds of merry men I never will be seen. "I'll take the crown from off my head And tread it 'neath my feet Before their rude and careless gaze My shrinking eyes shall meet. "A queen unveiled before the crowd! -- Upon each lip my name! -- Why, Persia's women all would blush And weep for Vashti's shame! "Go back!" she cried, and waved her hand, And grief was in her eye: "Go, tell the King," she sadly said, "That I would rather die." They brought her message to the King, Dark flashed his angry eye; 'Twas as the lightning ere the storm Hath swept in fury by. Then bitterly spoke the King, Through purple lips of wrath -- "What shall be done to her who dares To cross your monarch's path?" Then spake his wily counsellors -- "O King of this fair land! From distant Ind to Ethiop, All bow to thy command. "But if, before thy servants' eyes, This thing they plainly see, That Vashti doth not heed thy will Nor yield herself to thee, "The women, restive 'neath our rule, Would learn to scorn our name, And from her deed to us would come Reproach and burning shame. "Then, gracious King, sign with thy hand This stern but just decree, That Vashti lay aside her crown, Thy Queen no more to be." She heard again the King's command, And left her high estate, Strong in her earnest womanhood, She calmly meet her fate, And left the palace of the King, Proud of her spotless name -- A woman who could bend to grief, But would not bow to shame. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE RIGHTS OF WOMAN by ANNA LETITIA BARBAULD THE RIGHTS OF WOMAN by ANNA LETITIA BARBAULD HEMATITE HEIRLOOM LIVES ON (MAYBE DECEMBER 1980) by ALICE NOTLEY ON THE BEACH by CLARIBEL ALEGRIA FEMINIST POEM NUMBER ONE by ELIZABETH ALEXANDER HYPOCRITE SWIFT by LOUISE BOGAN FOR A GODCHILD, REGINA, ON THE OCCASION OF HER FIRST LOVE by TOI DERRICOTTE HESTER'S SONG by TOI DERRICOTTE A DOUBLE STANDARD by FRANCES ELLEN WATKINS HARPER AN APPEAL TO MY COUNTRYWOMEN by FRANCES ELLEN WATKINS HARPER |
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