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Classic and Contemporary Poetry


THE YOUNG HOUSEWIFE by WILLIAM CARLOS WILLIAMS

Poem Explanation Poet Analysis

First Line: AT TEN A.M. THE YOUNG HOUSEWIFE
Last Line: DRIED LEAVES AS I BOW AND PASS SMILING.
Subject(s): HOUSEWIVES;

At ten A.M. the young housewife
moves about in negligee behind
the wooden walls of her husband's house.
I pass solitary in my car.

Then again she comes to the curb
to call the ice-man, fish-man, and stands
shy, uncorseted, tucking in
stray ends of hair, and I compare her
to a fallen leaf.

The noiseless wheels of my car
rush with a crackling sound over
dried leaves as I bow and pass smiling.




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