Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE UNFINISHED GOWN, by DOUGLAS MALLOCH


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE UNFINISHED GOWN, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: She sat a long time quietly
Last Line: And with white fingers snapped the thread.
Subject(s): Clothing & Dress


She sat a long time quietly
When they had told her he was dead.
She did not seem to hear, to see,
And not a word of sorrow said.
And then she lifted up her head
And took her sewing. Could it be
She did not care? -- so lately wed,
And wed to such a man as he?

She took no stitches, but her gaze
Looked long upon the garment now,
A dainty gown for happy days,
When happiness had come somehow --
As beautiful as was her brow,
A gown that he would love and praise
When she should come with stately bow
And all her sweet, old-fashioned ways.

Well, they had told her he was dead.
For him the gown she would not wear.
He would have loved this ruching red
Against the darkness of her hair.
She took her sewing. Did she care? --
For not a word of grief she said.
She lifted up the garment fair
And with white fingers snapped the thread.





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