Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, CHICORY AND DAISIES, by WILLIAM CARLOS WILLIAMS


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

CHICORY AND DAISIES, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Lift your flowers / on bitter stems
Last Line: With her teeth!
Subject(s): Daisies; Flowers


I

Lift your flowers
on bitter stems
chicory!
Lift them up
out of the scorched ground!
Bear no foliage
but give yourself
wholly to that!
Strain under them
you bitter stems
that no beast eats --
and scorn greyness!
Into the heat with them:
cool!
luxuriant! sky-blue!
The earth cracks and
is shriveled up;
the wind moans piteously;
the sky goes out
if you should fail.

II

I saw a child with daisies
for weaving into the hair
tear the stems
with her teeth!





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