Author: Ella Wheeler Wilcox
'Tis time to dress. Dost hear the music surging Like sobbing waves that roll up from the sea? Yes, yes, I hear -I yield -no need of urging; I know your wishes, -send Lisette to me. I hate the ballroom; hate its gilded pleasure; I hate the crowd within it, well you know; But what of that? I am your lawful treasure - And when you would display me I must go. You bought me with a mother's pain and trouble. I've been a great expense to you alway. And now, if you can sell me, and get double The sum I cost -why, what have I to say? You've done your duty: kept me in the fashion, And shown me off at every stylish place. 'Twas not your fault I had a heart of passion; 'Twas not your fault I ever saw his face. The dream was brief, and beautiful, and tender, (O God! to live those golden hours once more. The silver moonlight, and his dark eyes' splendour, The sky above us, and the sea before.) Come, come, Lisette, bring out those royal laces; To-night must make the victory complete. Among the crowd of masked and smiling faces, I'll move with laughter, and with smiles most sweet. Make me most fair! with youth and grace and beauty, I needs must conquer bloated age and gold. She shall not say I have not done my duty; I'm ready now -a daughter to be sold!
Type of Poem: Narrative Poem
Date Written:
Date Published:
Language: English
Keywords: Public Domain
Source: Public Domain Collection
Publisher:
Rights/Permissions: Public Domain
Comments/Notes: This poem presents a poignant commentary on the commodification of women in society, specifically within the context of upper-class social circles. The speaker, presumably a young woman, is being prepared for a ball where she will be "displayed" - a term suggesting objectification - for potential suitors. She explicitly mentions her resentment towards this process, saying, "I hate the ballroom; hate its gilded pleasure; I hate the crowd within it."
The tone of the poem is one of bitterness and resignation. The speaker acknowledges her position as a "lawful treasure" to be sold, indicating her lack of agency and control over her own life. She contrasts this with a past love affair, a "brief, and beautiful, and tender" dream that was filled with genuine passion - a stark contrast to her current reality.
The structure of the poem, a series of rhymed couplets, lends an air of formal elegance, subtly reinforcing the theme of societal expectations and conventions. Key literary devices include simile, as seen in "like sobbing waves that roll up from the sea," aiding in setting the melancholic tone, and the use of parentheses, which encapsulate the speaker's cherished memories, making them appear as fleeting thoughts or asides.
Finally, the poem ends on a note of defiance, with the speaker committing herself to perform her 'duty' with grace and beauty, exuding a sense of tragic heroism. The poem is a powerful exploration of societal pressures, the longing for personal freedom, and the struggle against enforced roles.
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:
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.