La Figlia che Piange - A poem by T.S. Eliot

T.S. Eliot - La Figlia che Piange

O quam te memorem virgo...



STAND on the highest pavement of the stair—
Lean on a garden urn—
Weave, weave the sunlight in your hair—
Clasp your flowers to you with a pained surprise—
Fling them to the ground and turn
With a fugitive resentment in your eyes:
But weave, weave the sunlight in your hair.

So I would have had him leave,
So I would have had her stand and grieve,
So he would have left
As the soul leaves the body torn and bruised,
As the mind deserts the body it has used.
I should find
Some way incomparably light and deft,
Some way we both should understand,
Simple and faithless as a smile and shake of the hand.

She turned away, but with the autumn weather
Compelled my imagination many days,
Many days and many hours:
Her hair over her arms and her arms full of flowers.
And I wonder how they should have been together!
I should have lost a gesture and a pose.
Sometimes these cogitations still amaze
The troubled midnight and the noon’s repose.

Added: on July 23rd, 2005 at 4:27 AM | Viewed: 5528 times | Comments and analysis of La Figlia che Piange by T.S. Eliot Comments (5)

La Figlia che Piange - Comments and Information
Poet: T.S. Eliot Poem: 12. La Figlia che Piange Volume: Prufrock and Other Observations Year: Published/Written in 1917 Poem of the Day: Jan 24 2007 Comment 5 of 5, added on June 2nd, 2006 at 4:45 PM. In the few comments here, people seem to be making note of the line "the hair over her arms and her arms full of flowers" - I, personally, believe to fully understand this line the reader needs to continue to connect this directly to the next line "And I wonder how they should have been together!" Eliot is using a metaphor to describe her bad and good characteristics and reflects, in an older stage of his life, if they could have worked together in a relationship with himself. Seamus from United States Comment 4 of 5, added on November 25th, 2005 at 3:54 PM. You can hear T.S. Eliot giving a reading of this poem online at The Academy of American Poets at poets.org Sarah from United States Comment 3 of 5, added on July 23rd, 2005 at 4:27 AM. the poem is one such that brings you to tears literally by the sheer imagery and the content. i have been reading !!! this poem for the last 15 years and have never been tired. as far as the hair 'on' her arms comment i believe one really sees what one wants to. looking at the sunset a dying man said, '' what a pity for the sun to be no more''. the poem is wonderful for its power to move and make one think if not feel. rahul bhan from India More Comments >> Are you looking for more information on this poem? Perhaps you are trying to analyze it? The poem, La Figlia che Piange, has received 5 comments. Click here to read them, and perhaps post a comment of your own. Of course you can also always discuss poems by T.S. Eliot with others on the American Poems poetry forum!

Poem Info
Poet: T.S. Eliot Poem: 12. La Figlia che Piange Volume: Prufrock and Other Observations Year: Published/Written in 1917 Last read: May 14 2008, 1:47PM Poem of the Day: Jan 24 2007 Viewed 5528 times. Added on July 23rd, 2005 at 4:27 AM.

Eliot Info
Biography More Poems (45 poems) Books