Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE NEW MAGDALENE, by JOHN COWPER POWYS


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE NEW MAGDALENE, by             Poem Explanation         Poet's Biography
First Line: She turns her with sick heart
Last Line: Can work her no more harm.
Subject(s): Grief; Hair; Hearts; Tears; Worship; Sorrow; Sadness


She turns her with sick heart
From the crowd with the burning eyes.
She flees to the woods apart
Where the old world's shadow lies.

And there in the leafy gloom,
With her white face hid in her hair,
She moans the unpitied doom
Of the flesh that's born too fair.

Softly with amorous tread
From the dark doth a Satyr creep
And standing close to her head
Watches the wanton weep.

Like the mask of a thousand years
The lust in him drops away,
And big immortal tears
Make a grave for it in the clay.

And gently on bended knees
He worships the wanton there,
Pouring old heathen litanies
Into her drooping hair.

And the heart of the old world then
Flings forth its ancient balm,
And the burning eyes of men
Can work her no more harm.





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