"A HOMELY little woman with big hands": 'Twas thus she named herself, and shook her head All solemnly, the day that we were wed, While I -- well, I laughed lightly as I said, -- "No prince am I astray from fairy lands, O, 'homely little woman with big hands'!" "My homely little woman with big hands" I called her ever after, -- first, intent On irony and admonition blent; Then out of -- since she smiled -- pure merriment; And lastly, from sheer lack of reprimands. Brave, homely little woman with big hands! My homely little woman with big hands, Somehow, grew almost beautiful to me As time went by. Her features I could see Grow ever fairer; and so tenderly The strong hands clung, their touches were commands, Dear homely little woman with big hands! . . . . . . . A homely little woman, with big hands Folded all patiently across her breast -- The plain face fair and beautiful in rest -- But O, the lips that answer not when pressed! "Make me," I cry to God, who understands, "A homely little angel with big hands!" | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...BOYHOOD FRIENDS by EDGAR LEE MASTERS SONNET by EDWIN ARLINGTON ROBINSON THE SHADOWY WATERS: A DRAMATIC POEM by WILLIAM BUTLER YEATS HAIL COLUMBIA by JOSEPH HOPKINSON THE SLAVE SINGING AT MIDNIGHT by HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW SONNET: 9 by EDNA ST. VINCENT MILLAY |