Classic and Contemporary Poetry
SPANISH DANCER, by RAINER MARIA RILKE Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: As in one's hand a sulphur-match burns white Last Line: And stamps it out with little furious feet. Subject(s): Dancing & Dancers | ||||||||
As in one's hand a sulphur-match burns white before it flames, and giddily unfurls its thrusting tongues:thus circling in the sight of crowding watchers, hurried, hot and bright her round dance spreads in white and widening whirls. And suddenly it is sheer flame and flare. Then with her glance she kindles her tossed hair and with more daring artistry, leaps higher and wheels her vesture in this passion of fire, whence her bare arms, each like a startled snake, stretch sinuously rattling and awake. And then: as though the fire were strangling stuff, she gathers it together,flings it off with one imperious gesture, her proud eyes watching: where raging on the ground it lies, and keeps on flaming, nor submits, a-spin. Yet certain and triumphant, with a sweet and gracious smile, she lifts her perfect chin and stamps it out with little furious feet. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...FAMED DANCER DIES OF PHOSPHORUS POISONING by RICHARD HOWARD ROSE AND MURRAY by CONRAD AIKEN A DANCER'S LIFE by DONALD JUSTICE DANCING WITH THE DOG by SUSAN KENNEDY SONG FROM A COUNTRY FAIR by LEONIE ADAMS THE CHILDREN DANCING by LAURENCE BINYON |
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