Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, PRETTY WORDS, by ELINOR WYLIE


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

PRETTY WORDS, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Poets make pets of pretty, docile words
Last Line: Gilded and sticky, with a little sting.
Alternate Author Name(s): Benet, William Rose, Mrs.
Subject(s): Language; Words; Vocabulary


Poets make pets of pretty, docile words:
I love smooth words, like gold-enamelled fish
Which circle slowly with a silken swish,
And tender ones, like downy-feathered birds:
Words shy and dappled, deep-eyed deer in herds,
Come to my hand, and playful if I wish,
Or purring softly at a silver dish,
Blue Persian kittens, fed on cream and curds.

I love bright words, words up and singing early;
Words that are luminous in the dark, and sing;
Warm lazy words, white cattle under trees;
I love words opalescent, cool, and pearly,
Like midsummer moths, and honied words like bees,
Gilded and sticky, with a little sting.







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