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Classic and Contemporary Poetry
DOROTHY, by HENRY AUSTIN DOBSON Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: She then must once have looked, as I Last Line: "to hear I scrawled that ""dorothy.""'" Alternate Author Name(s): Dobson, Austin | |||
A REVERIE SUGGESTED BY THE NAME UPON A PANE SHE then must once have looked, as I Look now, across the level rye, -- Past Church and Manor-house, and seen, As now I see, the village green, The bridge, and Walton's river -- she Whose old-world name was 'Dorothy.' The swallows must have twittered, too, Above her head; the roses blew Below, no doubt, -- and, sure, the South Crept up the wall and kissed her mouth, -- That wistful mouth, which comes to me Linked with her name of Dorothy. What was she like? I picture her Unmeet for uncouth worshipper; -- Soft, -- pensive, -- far too subtly graced To suit the blunt bucolic taste, Whose crude perception could but see 'Ma'am Fine-airs' in 'Miss Dorothy.' How not? She loved, maybe, perfume, Soft textures, lace, a half-lit room; -- Perchance too candidly preferred 'Clarissa' to a gossip's word; -- And, for the rest, would seem to be Or proud, or dull -- this Dorothy. Poor child! -- with heart the down-lined nest Of warmest instincts unconfest, Soft, callow things that vaguely felt The breeze caress, the sunlight melt, But yet, by some obscure decree, Unwinged from birth; -- poor Dorothy! Not less I dream her mute desire To acred churl and booby squire, Now pale, with timorous eyes that filled At 'twice-told tales' of foxes killed; -- Now trembling when slow tongues grew free 'Twixt sport, and Port -- and Dorothy! 'Twas then she'd seek this nook, and find Its evening landscape balmy-kind; And here, where still her gentle name Lives on the old green glass, would frame Fond dreams of unfound harmony 'Twixt heart and heart. Poor Dorothy! L'ENVOI. These last I spoke. Then Florence said, Below me, -- 'Dreams? Delusions, Fred!' Next, with a pause, -- she bent the while Over a rose, with roguish smile -- 'But how disgusted, Sir, you'll be To hear I scrawled that "Dorothy."' | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...A GAGE D'AMOUR by HENRY AUSTIN DOBSON A GARDEN SONG by HENRY AUSTIN DOBSON ARS VICTRIX (IMITATED FROM THEOPHILE GAUTIER) by HENRY AUSTIN DOBSON BEFORE SEDAN by HENRY AUSTIN DOBSON DORA VERSUS ROSE by HENRY AUSTIN DOBSON GROWING GRAY by HENRY AUSTIN DOBSON HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW; IN MEMORIAM by HENRY AUSTIN DOBSON IN AFTER DAYS; RONDEAU by HENRY AUSTIN DOBSON THE BALLAD OF PROSE AND RHYME by HENRY AUSTIN DOBSON WHEN THERE IS PEACE by HENRY AUSTIN DOBSON |
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