Poetry Explorer


Classic and Contemporary Poetry


MAD by WILLIAM HENRY DAVIES

Poet Analysis

First Line: WHEN SHE WAS BUT A LITTLE CHILD
Last Line: EVEN FOR HER AFFLICTED FACE.
Subject(s): INSANITY; MADNESS; MENTAL ILLNESS;

When she was but a little child,
And only two feet high,
She clapped her hands and cried, 'Shoo, Shoo!'
To make the small birds fly;
Till with her mouth as sweet as a bee's,
Her laughter shook the old folks' knees.

But no one laughs when this small child,
Grown to a woman soon,
Claps her two hands and tries to shoo
Away the stars and moon;
As though one star should leave its place,
Even for her afflicted face.



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