Tormented
Claude McKay 1889 (Clarendon Parish) – 1948 (Chicago)
I will not reason, wrestle here with you,
Though you pursue and worry me about;
As well put forth my swarthy arm to stop
The wild wind howling, darkly mad without.
The night is yours for revels; day will light.
I will not fight you, bold and tigerish,
For I am weak, while you are gaining strength;
Peace! cease tormenting me to have your wish.
But when you're filled and sated with the flesh,
I shall go swiftly to the silver stream,
To cleanse my body for the spirit's sake,
And sun my limbs, and close my eyes to dream.
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Submitted on May 13, 2011
Modified on March 05, 2023
- 31 sec read
- 48 Views
Quick analysis:
Scheme | XAXA XBXB BCXC |
---|---|
Closest metre | Iambic pentameter |
Characters | 530 |
Words | 102 |
Stanzas | 3 |
Stanza Lengths | 4, 4, 4 |
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"Tormented" Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 17 Apr. 2024. <https://www.poetry.com/poem/6910/tormented>.
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