Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

INFANCY by WILLIAM HENRY DAVIES

Poet Analysis

First Line: BORN TO THE WORLD WITH MY HANDS CLENCHED
Last Line: I LAUGHED, WITH OPEN EYES.
Subject(s): BABIES; INFANTS;
Born to the world with my hands clenched,
I wept and shut my eyes;
Into my mouth a breast was forced,
To stop my bitter cries.
I did not know -- nor cared to know --
A woman from a man;
Until I saw a sudden light,
And all my joys began.

From that great hour my hands went forth,
And I began to prove
That many a thing my two eyes saw
My hands had power to move:
My fingers now began to work,
And all my toes likewise;
And reaching out with fingers stretched,
I laughed, with open eyes.



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