My Suit

By Madison Julius Cawein

Cinquain
    Faith! the Dandelion is      To my mind too lowly;     Then the winsome Violet      Is, forsooth, too holy.     There's the Touch-me-not - go to!      What! a face that's speckled     Like a buxom milking-maid's      Which the sun hath freckled!     And the Tiger-lily's wild,      Flirts, is fierce and haughty;     And the Sweet-Brier Rose, I swear,      Pricks you and is naughty.     Columbine a fool's cap hath,      Then she is too merry;     Gossip, I would sooner woo      Some plebeian Berry.     There's the shy Anemone, -      Well - her face shows sorrow;     Pale, goodsooth! alive to-day,      Dead and gone to-morrow.     And that big-eyed, fair-cheeked wench,      The untoward Daisy,     She's been wooed, aye! overmuch -      Then she is too lazy.     Pleasant persons are they all,      And their virtues many;     Faith, I know but good of all,      And naught ill of any.     Marry! 'tis a May-apple,      Fair-skinned as a Saxon,     Whom I woo, a fragrant thing      Delicate and waxen.

Share & Analyze This Poem

Spread the beauty of poetry or dive deeper into analysis

Analyze This Poem

Discover the literary devices, structure, and deeper meaning

Create Image

Transform this poem into a beautiful shareable image

Copy to Clipboard

Save this poem for personal use or sharing offline

Share the Love of Poetry
More Poems
More Cinquains
Daily Poem

Poem Details

Language: English
Keywords: Public Domain
Source: Public Domain Collection
Rights/Permissions: Public Domain
Analysis & Notes:
This poem presents itself as a light-hearted exploration of various flowers, which are personified with human characteristics, suggesting a deeper theme of the complexity and diversity of human nature and relationships. The speaker seems to be searching for the perfect balance of character traits, much like someone might seek in a romantic partner.

The dichotomy between the perceived virtues and flaws of each flower serves to illustrate the speaker's whimsical, yet insightful, temperament. The negative attributes assigned to the flowers - too lowly, too holy, too speckled, too wild, too pricky, too merry, too sorrowful, too lazy - indicate a sense of dissatisfaction or incompatibility. However, the poem concludes with the speaker finding appeal in the 'May-apple', implying they have found a balance of traits they find attractive.

The poem's structure adheres to a consistent rhyming pattern (AABB), which lends a steady rhythm and an inviting, playful tone. The personification of flowers is a standout literary device used throughout, transforming the poem into an engaging narrative about human connection. The use of archaic language and diction (such as 'forsooth', 'goodsooth', 'buxom', 'woo', 'Marry') creates a nostalgia-evoking atmosphere which contrasts with the poem's modern approach to exploring individuality and companionship.

Understanding Cinquain

A **cinquain** is a five-line poem prized for concentration and clarity. In English, it often follows the American syllabic pattern popularized by Adelaide Crapsey, but there are flexible variants used in classrooms and contemporary practice.

Common approaches and features:

  • Five Lines: The defining feature—compact form encourages vivid images and precise diction.
  • American Cinquain (Syllabic): Typical syllable counts per line: 2  / 4  / 6  / 8  / 2. Variants sometimes use 3/5/7/9/3 or loosen counts slightly.
  • Didactic Cinquain (Parts of Speech): A teaching-friendly pattern: Line 1—one noun; Line 2—two adjectives; Line 3—three verbs/participles; Line 4—a four-word phrase or feeling; Line 5—a synonym/summary noun.
  • Form Variants: Mirror cinquain (5+5 lines, the second in reverse counts), crown cinquain (a sequence of five cinquains), and free-verse adaptations.
  • Tone & Focus: Image-driven, momentary, and distilled—ideal for capturing a scene, object, or flash of insight.
  • Rhyme & Meter: Not required; sound comes from line-length contrast, stress, and strategic repetition.

The cinquain’s small frame invites exactness—each line a step that sharpens the image and lands with a clean, memorable close.