False

Author: Ella Wheeler Wilcox


    False!    Good God, I am dreaming!
         No, no, it never can be - 
    You who are so true in seeming,
         You, false to your vows and me?
    My wife and my fair boy's mother
         The star of my life - my queen - 
    To yield herself to another
         Like some light Magdalene!

    Proofs! what are proofs - I defy them!
         They never can shake my trust;
    If you look in my face and deny them
         I will trample them into the dust.
    For whenever I read of the glory
         Of the realms of Paradise,
    I sought for the truth of the story
         And found it in your sweet eyes.

    Why, you are the shy young creature
         I wooed in her maiden grace;
    There was purity in each feature,
         And my heaven I found in your face.
    And, "not only married but mated,"
         I would say in my pride and joy;
    And our hopes were all consummated
         When the angels gave us our boy.

    Now you could not blot that beginning
         So beautiful, pure and true,
    With a record of wicked sinning
         As a common woman might do.
    Look up in your old frank fashion,
         With your smile so free from art;
    And say that no guilty passion
         Has ever crept into your heart.

    How pallid you are, and you tremble!
         You are hiding your face from view!
    "Tho' a sinner, you cannot dissemble" - 
         My God! then the tale is true?
    True, and the sun above us
         Shines on in the summer skies?
    And men say the angels love us,
         And that God is good and wise.

    Yet he lets a wanton thing like you
         Ruin my home and my name!
    Get out of my sight or I strike you
         Dead in your shameless shame!
    No, no, I was wild, I was brutal;
         I would not take your life,
    For the efforts of death would be futile
         To wipe out the sin of a wife.
    Wife - why, that word has seemed sainted
         I uttered it like a prayer;
    And now to think it is tainted - 
         Christ! how much we can bear!

    "Slay you!" my boy's stained mother - 
         Nay, that would not punish, or save;
    A soul that has outraged another
         Finds no sudden peace in the grave.
    I will leave you here to remember
         The Eden that was your own,
    While on toward my life's December
         I walk in the dark alone.

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 vividly explores themes of betrayal, trust, love, and the disintegration of marital sanctity. The tone is confrontational and anguished, reflecting a speaker in the throes of heartbreak and disbelief over the perceived infidelity of his wife. The structure of the poem is a dramatic monologue, allowing the reader to witness the speaker's tumultuous emotions and thoughts as he grapples with his wife's supposed betrayal.

The poem uses rich imagery to convey the depth of the speaker's feelings. References to "heaven" and "Paradise" represent his once idyllic view of his marriage, contrasted starkly with his current perception of his wife as a "wanton thing". This radical shift in perception underlines the emotional shock and betrayal felt by the speaker. The poem also uses rhetorical questions to emphasize the speaker's disbelief and pain.

The recurring motif of the wife's eyes serves as a symbol of truth and purity, further emphasizing the perceived deceit. The emotional climax is achieved when the speaker's trust is finally shattered, using phrases such as "My God! then the tale is true?" The speaker's choice to leave his wife rather than enact physical punishment reveals a desire for moral high ground and profound psychological torment. His decision to "walk in the dark alone" symbolizes both his emotional isolation and the grim future he foresees.

The poem's language and structure create a powerful representation of marital betrayal and its emotional consequences, offering an intense exploration of trust, love, and loss.

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.