A Piteous Plaint

By Eugene Field

    I cannot eat my porridge,     I weary of my play;     No longer can I sleep at night,     No longer romp by day!     Though forty pounds was once my weight,     I'm shy of thirty now;     I pine, I wither and I fade     Through love of Martha Clow.     As she rolled by this morning     I heard the nurse girl say:     "She weighs just twenty-seven pounds     And she's one year old to-day."     I threw a kiss that nestled     In the curls upon her brow,     But she never turned to thank me--     That bouncing Martha Clow!     She ought to know I love her,     For I've told her that I do;     And I've brought her nuts and apples,     And sometimes candy, too!     I'd drag her in my little cart     If her mother would allow     That delicate attention     To her daughter, Martha Clow.     O Martha! pretty Martha!     Will you always be so cold?     Will you always be as cruel     As you are at one-year-old?     Must your two-year-old admirer     Pine as hopelessly as now     For a fond reciprocation     Of his love for Martha Clow?     You smile on Bernard Rogers     And on little Harry Knott;     You play with them at peek-a-boo     All in the Waller Lot!     Wildly I gnash my new-cut teeth     And beat my throbbing brow,     When I behold the coquetry     Of heartless Martha Clow!     I cannot eat my porridge,     Nor for my play care I;     Upon the floor and porch and lawn     My toys neglected lie;     But on the air of Halsted street     I breathe this solemn vow:     "Though she be false, I will be true     To pretty Martha Clow!"

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Poem Details

Language: English
Keywords: Public Domain
Source: Public Domain Collection
Rights/Permissions: Public Domain

Analysis & Notes:
This delightful, playful poem explores the themes of unrequited love and youthful jealousy, all encapsulated within the innocent framework of childhood. The speaker, a two-year-old boy, expresses his deep affection for Martha Clow, a one-year-old girl, yet laments her apparent indifference or unawareness of his feelings. The poem is humorously written from the perspective of a child, yet the emotions conveyed—love, jealousy, heartbreak—are universal and timeless, making it relatable to readers of all ages.

The tone of the poem fluctuates between melancholy and frustration, reflecting the boy's struggle to grasp the complexities of love. The repetition of the phrase "I cannot eat my porridge," at the beginning and end of the poem, emphasizes the speaker's distress. The structure is consistent, using quatrains with a clear ABAB rhyme scheme, which gives the poem a rhythmic, sing-song quality that mirrors childhood nursery rhymes. This cleverly enhances the childlike innocence of the speaker's voice.

The poem heavily employs personification and hyperbole to convey the speaker's emotions. For example, the boy's weight loss, his toys lying neglected, and his dramatic vow of loyalty to Martha, all serve to exaggerate the magnitude of his feelings and the impact of his perceived rejection. This use of exaggeration injects humor into the poem and underscores the innocence of the speaker, reminding readers of the trivial concerns that seemed monumental in our own childhoods.

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.