Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THWARTED UTTERANCE, by WILLIAM ROSE BENET Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: Why should my clumsy speech so fall astray Last Line: Perhaps too proud, too sweet! Subject(s): Speech; Love; Oratory; Orators | ||||||||
Why should my clumsy speech so fall astray, To uncouth jargon of the every-day Turn each fit word and phrase I treasured for your praise? Discoveries I won to from afar, All the rare things you are -- nor know you are, -- In Orient offering I haste to you to bring. I think to kneel and spread on cloths of dream The beautiful, the priceless things you seem; Perfume and precious stone, That you be shown your own. Prince of my vision-palace, I would call Your name through trumpets down its central hall, And the rapt choral praise Before your dais raise; And you should see, should hear, be glad, and smile That I so love you. Ah, but all the while I may not show nor teach Save through my paupered speech! Beggar in guise, who am so rich at heart Where you have set your pure white shrine apart And keep your cherished state Dear and immaculate, How should you know or hear me, when my tongue Turns a dull rebel and doth ready wrong To thoughts my dreams repeat? -- Perhaps too proud, too sweet! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL BROADCASTING CORPORATION by ANSELM HOLLO THE ORATION; AFTER CAVAFY by CAROLYN KIZER A VOICE FROM THE SWEAT-SHOPS (A HYMN WITH RESPONSES) by LOUIS UNTERMEYER A SIMPLIFICATION by RICHARD WILBUR MOTHER TONGUE by RANDY BLASING THE BOOK OF THE DEAD MAN (#13): 1. ABOUT THE DEAD MAN AND THUNDER by MARVIN BELL THE BOOK OF THE DEAD MAN (#13): 2. MORE ABOUT THE DEAD MAN AND THUNDER by MARVIN BELL SATIRE: 1 by AULUS PERSIUS FLACCUS THE FALCONER OF GOD by WILLIAM ROSE BENET |
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