Do You Think That I Do Not Know?

By Henry Lawson

Narrative Poem
    They say that I never have written of love,     As a writer of songs should do;     They say that I never could touch the strings     With a touch that is firm and true;     They say I know nothing of women and men     In the fields where Love's roses grow,     And they say I must write with a halting pen     Do you think that I do not know?     When the love-burst came, like an English Spring,     In days when our hair was brown,     And the hem of her skirt was a sacred thing     And her hair was an angel's crown.     The shock when another man touched her arm,     Where the dancers sat round in a row;     The hope and despair, and the false alarm     Do you think that I do not know?     By the arbour lights on the western farms,     You remember the question put,     While you held her warm in your quivering arms     And you trembled from head to foot.     The electric shock from her finger tips,     And the murmuring answer low,     The soft, shy yielding of warm red lips     Do you think that I do not know?     She was buried at Brighton, where Gordon sleeps,     When I was a world away;     And the sad old garden its secret keeps,     For nobody knows to-day.     She left a message for me to read,     Where the wild wide oceans flow;     Do you know how the heart of a man can bleed     Do you think that I do not know?     I stood by the grave where the dead girl lies,     When the sunlit scenes were fair,     And the white clouds high in the autumn skies,     And I answered the message there.     But the haunting words of the dead to me     Shall go wherever I go.     She lives in the Marriage that Might Have Been     Do you think that I do not know?     They sneer or scoff, and they pray or groan,     And the false friend plays his part.     Do you think that the blackguard who drinks alone     Knows aught of a pure girl's heart?     Knows aught of the first pure love of a boy     With his warm young blood aglow,     Knows aught of the thrill of the world-old joy     Do you think that I do not know?     They say that I never have written of love,     They say that my heart is such     That finer feelings are far above;     But a writer may know too much.     There are darkest depths in the brightest nights,     When the clustering stars hang low;     There are things it would break his strong heart to write     Do you think that I do not know?

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Poem Details

Language: English
Keywords: Public Domain
Source: Public Domain Collection
Rights/Permissions: Public Domain
Analysis & Notes:
This poem is a deeply personal exploration of love, loss, and the inscrutable complexities that come with human emotions. The overarching theme is the speaker's intimate knowledge of love and its associated agonies, in response to accusations of his ignorance about the subject. The repetition of the line— "Do you think that I do not know?"— reinforces this theme, serving as a poignant refrain that underscores the poet's private suffering, misunderstood by his critics.

The poem's structure is classically rhythmic, using a regular rhyme scheme that lends a musicality to the narrative. The tone is melancholic and defensive, with an undercurrent of bitterness towards those who doubt the poet's understanding of love. The poet's choice of vivid imagery, such as "the love-burst came, like an English Spring," and "the electric shock from her finger tips," is a powerful literary device that brings the rawness of emotion to the forefront. The poem also employs a compelling narrative arc, revealing a tragic love story that ends with the death of the beloved, further asserting the speaker's intimate knowledge of love and loss. This element of tragedy is heightened by the final stanza, which suggests that the poet's experiences have endowed him with a depth of understanding that is too painful to articulate.

Overall, this poem is a poignant testament to the profound complexities of love, brilliantly portrayed through vivid imagery, a melancholic tone, and a compelling narrative structure.

Exploring Narrative Poetry

Narrative poetry is a form of poetry that tells a story, often making use of the voices of a narrator and characters as well. Unlike lyric poetry, which focuses on emotions and thoughts, narrative poetry is dedicated to storytelling, weaving tales that captivate readers through plot and character development.

Narrative poems are unique in their ability to combine the depth of storytelling with the expressive qualities of poetry. Here are some defining characteristics:

  • Structured Plot: Narrative poems typically have a clear beginning, middle, and end, following a plot that might involve conflict, climax, and resolution, much like a short story or novel.
  • Character Development: Characters in narrative poems are often well-developed, with distinct voices and personalities that drive the story forward.
  • Descriptive Language: The language used in narrative poetry is vivid and descriptive, painting a clear picture of the scenes and events, while also conveying the emotions and atmosphere of the story.

From ancient epics like "The Iliad" and "The Odyssey" to more modern narrative poems, this form continues to engage readers by blending the art of storytelling with the beauty and rhythm of poetry.