Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE MASK, by CLAUDE HOUGHTON Poet's Biography First Line: I am as some frail harlot whose pale face Last Line: The leprous growth of my immense despair. Subject(s): Despair; Faces; Masks; Secrets | ||||||||
I AM as some frail harlot whose pale face Is daubed with rouge to hide the tracks of sin, Whose outward smile denies the grief within; A shade of death that haunts a pleasure place. Her loud and mirthless laugh rings false and thin, Within her eyes of flame the wise can trace The lurking terror of her soul's disgrace Harpy of hell, who life by shame must win. Yea, thus am I who prowl around the lair Of languid pleasure, 'gainst my troubled will, With smiling face despite my heart's dread chill, Despite the burden of my giant care, I wear this mask of joy and strive to kill The leprous growth of my immense despair. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...AT THE MUSEE RODIN IN PARIS by LAURE-ANNE BOSSELAAR CHANEL NO. 5 by LAURE-ANNE BOSSELAAR EXISTING LIGHT; FOR LEE NYE by MADELINE DEFREES GRETA GARBO AND THE STAR MESSENGER by MADELINE DEFREES ELSINORE IN THE LATE ANCIENT AUTUMN by NORMAN DUBIE MARGARET'S SPEECH by NORMAN DUBIE THE PARALLAX MONOGRAPH FOR RODIN by NORMAN DUBIE THE TREES OF MADAME BLAVATSKY by NORMAN DUBIE CHANT D'AUTOMNE by CLAUDE HOUGHTON |
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