Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, LA FIGLIA CHE PIANGE, by THOMAS STEARNS ELIOT


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

LA FIGLIA CHE PIANGE, by             Poem Explanation     Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Stand on the highest pavement of the stair
Alternate Author Name(s): Eliot, T. S.
Subject(s): Love; Love - Loss Of; Regret


O quam te memorem virgo ...
O quam te memorem virgo ...
Stand on the highest pavement of the stair-
Stand on the highest pavement of the stair-
Lean on a garden urn-
Lean on a garden urn-
Weave, weave the sunlight in your hair-
Weave, weave the sunlight in your hair-
Clasp your flowers to you with a pained surprise-
Clasp your flowers to you with a pained surprise-
Fling them to the ground and turn
Fling them to the ground and turn
With a fugitive resentment in your eyes:
With a fugitive resentment in your eyes:
But weave, weave the sunlight in your hair.
But weave, weave the sunlight in your hair.


So I would have had him leave,
So I would have had him leave,
So I would have had her stand and grieve,
So I would have had her stand and grieve,
So he would have left
So he would have left
As the soul leaves the body torn and bruised,
As the soul leaves the body torn and bruised,
As the mind deserts the body it has used.
As the mind deserts the body it has used.
I should find
I should find
Some way incomparably light and deft,
Some way incomparably light and deft,
Some way we both should understand,
Some way we both should understand,
Simple and faithless as a smile and shake of the hand.
Simple and faithless as a smile and shake of the hand.


She turned away, but with the autumn weather
She turned away, but with the autumn weather
Compelled my imagination many days,
Compelled my imagination many days,
Many days and many hours:
Many days and many hours:
Her hair over her arms and her arms full of flowers.
Her hair over her arms and her arms full of flowers.
And I wonder how they should have been together!
And I wonder how they should have been together!
I should have lost a gesture and a pose.
I should have lost a gesture and a pose.
Sometimes these cogitations still amaze
Sometimes these cogitations still amaze
The troubled midnight and the noon's repose.
The troubled midnight and the noon's repose.






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