Classic and Contemporary Poetry
WHERE'S AGNES?, by ELIZABETH BARRETT BROWNING Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: Nay, if I had come back so Last Line: Poplars, cedars, cypresses! Subject(s): Trees; Beauty | ||||||||
I NAY, if I had come back so, And found her dead in her grave, And if a friend I know Had said, 'Be strong, nor rave: She lies there, dead below: II 'I saw her, I who speak, White, stiff, the face one blank: The blue shade came to her cheek Before they nailed the plank, For she had been dead a week.' III Why, if he had spoken so, I might have believed the thing, Although her look, although Her step, laugh, voice's ring Lived in me still as they do. IV But dead that other way, Corrupted thus and lost? That sort of worm in the clay? I cannot count the cost, That I should rise and pay. V My Agnes false? such shame? She? Rather be it said That the pure saint of her name Has stood there in her stead, And tricked you to this blame. VI Her very gown, her cloak Fell chastely: no disguise, But expression! while she broke With her clear gray morning-eyes Full upon me and then spoke. VII She wore her hair away From her forehead, -- like a cloud Which a little wind in May Peels off finely: disallowed Though bright enough to stay. VIII For the heavens must have the place To themselves, to use and shine in, As her soul would have her face To press through upon mine, in That orb of angel grace. IX Had she any fault at all, 'T was having none, I thought too -- There seemed a sort of thrall; As she felt her shadow ought to Fall straight upon the wall. X Her sweetness strained the sense Of common life and duty; And every day's expense Of moving in such beauty Required, almost, defence. XI What good, I thought, is done By such sweet things, if any? This world smells ill i' the sun Though the garden-flowers are many, She is only one. XII Can a voice so low and soft Take open actual part With Right, -- maintain aloft Pure truth in life or art, Vexed always, wounded oft? -- XIII She fit, with that fair pose Which melts from curve to curve, To stand, run, work with those Who wrestle and deserve, And speak plain without glose? XIV But I turned round on my fear Defiant, disagreeing -- What if God has set her here Less for action than for Being? -- For the eye and for the ear. XV Just to show what beauty may, Just to prove what music can, -- And then to die away From the presence of a man, Who shall learn, henceforth, to pray? XVI As a door, left half ajar In heaven, would make him think How heavenly-different are Things glanced at through the chink, Till he pined from near to far. XVII That door could lead to hell? That shining merely meant Damnation? What! She fell Like a woman, who was sent Like an angel, by a spell? XVIII She, who scarcely trod the earth, Turned mere dirt? My Agnes, -- mine! Called so! felt of too much worth To be used so! too divine To be breathed near, and so forth! XIX Why, I dared not name a sin In her presence: I went round, Clipped its name and shut it in Some mysterious crystal sound, -- Changed the dagger for the pin. XX Now you name herself that word! O my Agnes! O my saint! Then the great joys of the Lord Do not last? Then all this paint Runs off nature? leaves a board? XXI Who's dead here? No, not she: Rather I! or whence this damp Cold corruption's misery? While my very mourners stamp Closer in the clods on me. XXII And my mouth is full of dust Till I cannot speak and curse -- Speak and damm him ... 'Blame's unjust'? Sin blots out the universe, All because she would and must? XXIII She, my white rose, dropping off The high rose-tree branch! and not That the night-wind blew too rough, Or the noon-sun burnt too hot, But, that being a rose -- 't was enough! XXIV Then henceforth may earth grow trees! No more roses! -- hard straight lines To score lies out! none of these Fluctuant curves, but firs and pines, Poplars, cedars, cypresses! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...VARIATIONS: 14 by CONRAD AIKEN DIVINELY SUPERFLUOUS BEAUTY by ROBINSON JEFFERS THE BEAUTY OF THINGS by ROBINSON JEFFERS HOPE IS NOT FOR THE WISE by ROBINSON JEFFERS LIFE FROM THE LIFELESS by ROBINSON JEFFERS REARMAMENT by ROBINSON JEFFERS SHANE ONEILLS CAIRN by ROBINSON JEFFERS A CHILD'S THOUGHT OF GOD by ELIZABETH BARRETT BROWNING |
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