Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE DANCER, by JAMES STEPHENS


Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE DANCER, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: I will not dance / I say I will not dance
Last Line: I'm going to my dead ...! Ah, stamping swine!
Subject(s): Dancing & Dancers


I will not dance!
I say I will not dance.
Your audience! Pah! Let them go home again,
Sleek, ugly pigs! Am I to hop and prance
As long as they will pay!
And posture for their eyes! And lay
My womanhood before them! Let them drain
Their porter-pots and snuffle -- I'll not stay!

For he is dead!
I tell you he is dead!
My God, did you not hear me say it
Twice already? I held his groaning head
In these remembering arms;
And cursed the charm
That could not stop his going. Must I bay it
Like a dog to you! Quit your alarms!

They shout and stamp!
Then, let them shout and stamp,
Those booted hogs and lechers! I'm away
To sit beside my dead! O God! You tramp
Upon me, too; and twine
More sorrows round me than are mine.
With holy unconcern ... Don't bar my way!
I'm going to my dead ...! Ah, stamping swine!





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