Classic and Contemporary Poetry
NO ROOM, by CALE YOUNG RICE Poet's Biography First Line: There never was room for her anywhere Last Line: Lena? Louise? Lisette? Subject(s): Death; Funerals; Graves; Names; Dead, The; Burials; Tombs; Tombstones | ||||||||
There never was room for her anywhere, Whatever we planned to do, If we rode on the river or into the hills, The seats were one too few. Of course, when there was work to be done, We called her a dear, and she did it. Achievement over, we took the praise; None thought of her amid it. Grown older -- and ill, she had small care of us, Less of the hospital. 'It's really too bad,' we said, and forgot; And death came, and the pall. To the funeral draped in wreaths of rain We meant to go, no doubt. Before there was room for her in the grave, It had to be baled out. And after? ... Well ... What would you have? Living thoughts and days Never have room for a dead woman, Useless to their ways. Perhaps there's a fibre in some one of us Holding still a regret That bears her name. Lelia, was it? ... Lena? Louise? Lisette? | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE SURVIVOR AMONG GRAVES by RANDALL JARRELL SUBJECTED EARTH by ROBINSON JEFFERS THE GRAVE OF MRS. HEMANS by CECIL FRANCES ALEXANDER THOSE GRAVES IN ROME by LARRY LEVIS NOT TO BE DWELLED ON by HEATHER MCHUGH ONE LAST DRAW OF THE PIPE by PAUL MULDOON ETRUSCAN TOMB by JOHN FREDERICK NIMS ENDING WITH A LINE FROM LEAR by MARVIN BELL A CHARM TO BRING CHILDREN (EGYPT, A.D. 100) by CALE YOUNG RICE |
|