Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE GROWTH OF LORRAINE, by EDWIN ARLINGTON ROBINSON


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE GROWTH OF LORRAINE, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: While I stood listening, discreetly dumb
Last Line: "this worn-out, cast-out flesh of mine to sleep."


I

WHILE I stood listening, discreetly dumb,
Lorraine was having the last word with me:
"I know," she said, "I know it, but you see
Some creatures are born fortunate, and some
Are born to be found out and overcome,--
Born to be slaves, to let the rest go free;
And if I'm one of them (and I must be)
You may as well forget me and go home.

"You tell me not to say these things, I know,
But I should never try to be content:
I've gone too far; the life would be too slow.
Some could have done it--some girls have the stuff;
But I can't do it: I don't know enough.
I'm going to the devil."--And she went.

II

I DID not half believe her when she said
That I should never hear from her again;
Nor when I found a letter from Lorraine,
Was I surprised or grieved at what I read:
"Dear friend, when you find this, I shall be dead.
You are too far away to make me stop.
They say that one drop--think of it, one drop!--
Will be enough,--but I'll take five instead.

"You do not frown because I call you friend,
For I would have you glad that I still keep
Your memory, and even at the end--
Impenitent, sick, shattered--cannot curse
The love that flings, for better or for worse,
This worn-out, cast-out flesh of mine to sleep."





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