The Poplar
Richard Aldington 1892 (Portsmouth) – 1962
Why do you always stand there shivering
Between the white stream and the road?
The people pass through the dust
On bicycles, in carts, in motor-cars;
The waggoners go by at down;
The lovers walk on the grass path at night.
Stir from your roots, walk, poplar!
You are more beautiful than they are.
I know that the white wind loves you,
Is always kissing you and turning up
The white lining of your green petticoat.
The sky darts through you like blue rain,
And the grey rain drips on your flanks
And loves you.
And I have seen the moon
Slip his silver penny into your pocket
As you straightened your hair;
And the white mist curling and hesitating
Like a bashful lover about your knees.
I know you, poplar;
I have watched you since I was ten.
But if you had a little real love,
A little strength,
You would leave your nonchalant idle lovers
And go walking down the white road
Behind the waggoners.
There are beautiful beeches down beyond the hill.
Will you always stand there shivering?
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Submitted on May 13, 2011
Modified on March 05, 2023
- 54 sec read
- 115 Views
Quick analysis:
Scheme | AB XCXX DX EXXXXEXXXAX DXXXXBC XA |
---|---|
Closest metre | Iambic tetrameter |
Characters | 993 |
Words | 183 |
Stanzas | 6 |
Stanza Lengths | 2, 4, 2, 11, 7, 2 |
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"The Poplar" Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 19 Apr. 2024. <https://www.poetry.com/poem/30016/the-poplar>.
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