Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE OUTCAST, by HELEN MCCRORY ARENDELL


Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE OUTCAST, by                    
First Line: Born an outcast in a world of slanting sunshine
Last Line: Sense that worthwhile life was wasted.
Subject(s): Alienation (social Psychology); Estrangement; Outcasts


Born an outcast in a world of slanting sunshine,
Small hands grasping, grasping for one friendly beam.
"Play with me, children,
See, I am one of you!"
Sound of children's thoughtless laughter,
Sound of many small feet running.

Sunshine flooding highwtys, warming darkest corners,
Tense hands straining, straining for one friendly beam.
"Let me in, young folks,
I am a woman, grown now."
Looks of open condescension,
Looks of passion, hot and brooding.

Friendly sunshine, made by God to serve all creatures,
Old hands, passive, yellow as the slanting beam.
"Let me die, strangers,
I am what you made me."
Sense of strange and dark foreboding,
Sense that worthwhile life was wasted.





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