Classic and Contemporary Poetry
A VARIATION, by JAMES WHITCOMB RILEY Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: I am tired of this! Last Line: Reverently and adore. Alternate Author Name(s): Johnson Of Boone, Benj. F. Subject(s): Beauty; Faces; Hate; Love - Complaints | ||||||||
I AM tired of this! Nothing else but loving! Nothing else but kiss and kiss, Coo, and turtle-doving! Can't you change the order some? Hate me just a little -- come! Lay aside your "dears," "Darlings," "kings," and "princes!" Call me knave, and dry your tears -- Nothing in me winces, -- Call me something low and base -- Something that will suit the case! Wish I had your eyes And their drooping lashes! I would dry their teary lies Up with lightning-flashes -- Make your sobbing lips unsheathe All the glitter of your teeth! Can't you lift one word -- With some pang of laughter -- Louder than the drowsy bird Crooning 'neath the rafter? Just one bitter word, to shriek Madly at me as I speak! How I hate the fair Beauty of your forehead! How I hate your fragrant hair! How I hate the torrid Touches of your splendid lips, And the kiss that drips and drips! Ah, you pale at last! And your face is lifted Like a white sail to the blast, And your hands are shifted Into fists: and, towering thus, You are simply glorious! Now before me looms Something more than human; Something more than beauty blooms In the wrath of Woman -- Something to bow down before Reverently and adore. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...TALKING RICHARD WILSON BLUES, BY RICHARD CLAY WILSON by DENIS JOHNSON THE BRIDGE by ALEXANDER ANDERSON THE RABBI'S SON-IN-LAW by SABINE BARING-GOULD MISGIVINGS by WILLIAM MATTHEWS THROUGH AGONY: 1 by CLAUDE MCKAY HEMATITE HEIRLOOM LIVES ON (MAYBE DECEMBER 1980) by ALICE NOTLEY QUICK AND BITTER by YEHUDA AMICHAI A BOY'S MOTHER by JAMES WHITCOMB RILEY |
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