Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE PALE WOMAN, by SARA BARD FIELD First Line: Woman, why so pale and thin? Last Line: Would strive in such a little place? Alternate Author Name(s): Wood, Charles Erskine Scoot, Mrs. Subject(s): White (color); Women | ||||||||
Woman, why so pale and thin? A swan and a raven strive within. From battling of beak am I wan and worn; From grappling of white with black wing torn. Woman, I hear no clash of wing. In awful silence is done this thing. They droop on my breast when weary of fight -- Swan on the left; raven on the right. The left breast burns like a fiery cross; The right breast blights like frozen moss. If the white the black heart slay, I shall be a nest for day. But if the swan should vanquished be, The raven with night will feather me. Daily I rise and lay me down. I comb my hair and smooth my gown, And, basket on arm, go into town. The neighbors see nothing strange or new: A woman marketing, as they do -- Butter and eggs and a fish or two. For who would dream my narrow clay Could hold the clash of night and day? Or that the birds of boundless space Would strive in such a little place? | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...ARISTOTLE TO PHYLLIS by JOHN HOLLANDER A WOMAN'S DELUSION by SUSAN HOWE JULIA TUTWILER STATE PRISON FOR WOMEN by ANDREW HUDGINS THE WOMEN ON CYTHAERON by ROBINSON JEFFERS TOMORROW by ANNA LETITIA BARBAULD LADIES FOR DINNER, SAIPAN by KENNETH KOCH GOODBYE TO TOLERANCE by DENISE LEVERTOV BLIND JOURNEY by SARA BARD FIELD CONTEMPORARY by SARA BARD FIELD COULD YOU NOT WATCH WITH ME ONE LITTLE HOUR? by SARA BARD FIELD |
|