Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, BELLS FOR JOHN WHITESIDE'S DAUGHTER, by JOHN CROWE RANSOM


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

BELLS FOR JOHN WHITESIDE'S DAUGHTER, by         Recitation     Poem Explanation     Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: There was such speed in her little body
Last Line: Lying so primly propped.
Subject(s): Daughters; Death - Children; Fathers & Daughters; Funerals; Social Protest; Death - Babies; Burials


There was such speed in her little body,
And such lightness in her footfall,
It is no wonder that her brown study
Astonishes us all.

Her wars were bruited in our high window,
We looked among orchard trees and beyond,
Where she took arms against her shadow,
Or harried unto the pond

The lazy geese, like a snow cloud
Dripping their snow on the green grass,
Tricking and stopping, sleepy and proud,
Who cried in goose, Alas

For the tireless heart within the little
Lady with rod that made them rise
From their noon apple-dreams, and scuttle
Goose-fashion under the skies,

But now go the bells, and we are ready;
In one house we are sternly stopped
To say we are vexed at her brown study,
Lying so primly propped.





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