Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE BATTLE, by ROSELLE MERCIER MONTGOMERY Poet's Biography First Line: No, do not smile at her as she goes past Last Line: For well, she knows that she must lose at last! Subject(s): Old Age; Women | ||||||||
NO, do not smile at her as she goes past Tricked out in all her youthful finery, For with her goes eternal tragedy She fights a battle she must lose at last! And gallantly she goes upon her way Her graceful figure is erect and neat; Her short skirt shows a pair of dainty feet; In her dark hair there is no touch of gray. Her hat tips girlishly upon her head; There are no wrinkles yet about her eyes; One feels there might be, but for artistries Her cheeks and lips are somewhat over-red. But do not smile and say as she goes by: "Aha! She would be young, she who is old!" Read, rather, in her eyes, fear, strange and cold For she has looked upon her enemy! That enemy who is the cruelest, The greatest, strongest of the conquerors! The oldest battle of them all is hers, And she is tired, tiredshe would rest! She would give up, but she still fightsah,yes! For something drives her on form day to day; For this she strives to keep old Time at bay That in Love's eyes she glimpsesweariness! Sodo not smile at her as she goes past, For well, she knows that she must lose at last! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...ARISTOTLE TO PHYLLIS by JOHN HOLLANDER A WOMAN'S DELUSION by SUSAN HOWE JULIA TUTWILER STATE PRISON FOR WOMEN by ANDREW HUDGINS THE WOMEN ON CYTHAERON by ROBINSON JEFFERS TOMORROW by ANNA LETITIA BARBAULD LADIES FOR DINNER, SAIPAN by KENNETH KOCH GOODBYE TO TOLERANCE by DENISE LEVERTOV A DESERTED HOUSE by ROSELLE MERCIER MONTGOMERY |
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