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Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THISTLE, by WILLIAM CARLOS WILLIAMS Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: They should have called the thistle Last Line: For the honey only. And so -- a thistle. Subject(s): Thistles | |||
They should have called the thistle -- well, it is that we, we love each other. Our heads side by side have a purple flamebed over them. We are one, we love ourself. The cows do not eat us nor tread on us. It is a little like the lichen on the blackened stones, a foaming winecup with thorns on the handle. They say jackasses eat them. Yes, and reindeer eat lichen, lick them from the stones. And we would be eaten -- as England ate Scotland? No. It is the color they must eat if they would have us. That offers itself but that alone. The rest is for asses or -- forbidden. Purple! Striped bellied flies and the black papillios are the color-led evangels. Ah but they come for the honey only. And so -- a thistle. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THISTLES by EDWARD JAMES HUGHES THE THISTLE FLOWER by ALICE CARY THE THISTLE by ALEXANDER MACLAGGAN THISTLE-DOWN by LOUISE CHANDLER MOULTON THE THISTLE; A LEGENDARY BALLAD by GEORGE MURRAY (1830-1910) SONG OF THE THISTLEDRIFT by RAY CLARKE ROSE THISTLE by LUCILA GODOY ALCAYAGA THISTLES by EDWARD JAMES HUGHES RADIAL WHEELS OF THE SEASON SPIKED WITH KNIVES by CHARLES TOMLINSON |
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