Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THEODORA, by PHOEBE CARY Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: By that name you will not know her Last Line: "I am desolate, forsaken!" Subject(s): Women; Human Behavior | ||||||||
BY that name you will not know her, But if words of mine can show her In such way that you may see How she doth appear to me; If, attending you shall find The fair picture in my mind, You will think this title meetest, Gift of God, the best and sweetest. All her free, impulsive acting, Is so charming, so distracting, Lovers think her made, I know, Only for a play-fellow. Coral lips, concealing pearls, Hath she, 'twixt dark rows of curls; And her words, dropt soft and slowly, Seem half ravishing, half holy. She is for a saint too human, Yet too saintly for a woman; Something childish in her face Blended with maturer grace, Shows a nature pure and good, Perfected by motherhood; -- Eyes Madonna-like, love-laden, Holier than befit a maiden. Simple in her faith unshrinking, Wise as sages in her thinking; Showing in her artless speech All she of herself can teach; Hiding love and thought profound, In such depths as none may sound; One, though known and comprehended, Yet with wondrous mystery blended. Sitting meekly and serenely, Sitting in a state most queenly; Knowing, though dethroned, discrowned, That her kingdom shall be found; That her Father's child must be Heir of immortality; This is still her highest merit, That she ruleth her own spirit. Thou to whom is given this treasure, Guard it, love it without measure; If forgotten it should lie In a weak hand carelessly, Thou mayst wake to miss and weep, That which thou didst fail to keep; Crying, when the gift is taken, "I am desolate, forsaken!" | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE ONE WHO WAS DIFFERENT by RANDALL JARRELL END OF THE WORLD by ROBINSON JEFFERS THE ANSWER by ROBINSON JEFFERS THE BROKEN BALANCE by ROBINSON JEFFERS TIME OF DISTURBANCE by ROBINSON JEFFERS SEVEN STREAMS OF NEVIS by GALWAY KINNELL THE UNCHANGEABLE by EDMUND CHARLES BLUNDEN A LEGEND OF THE NORTHLAND by PHOEBE CARY |
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