The Young Housewife - A poem by William Carlos Williams

William Carlos Williams - The Young Housewife

At ten AM the young housewife
moves about in negligee behind
the wooden walls of her husband's house.
I pass solitary in my car.

Then again she comes to the curb
to call the ice-man, fish-man, and stands
shy, uncorseted, tucking in
stray ends of hair, and I compare her
to a fallen leaf.

The noiseless wheels of my car
rush with a crackling sound over
dried leaves as I bow and pass smiling.

Added: on December 16th, 2007 at 10:02 AM | Viewed: 14365 times | Comments and analysis of The Young Housewife by William Carlos Williams Comments (6)

The Young Housewife - Comments and Information
Poet: William Carlos Williams Poem: The Young Housewife Poem of the Day: Dec 9 2005 Comment 6 of 6, added on April 16th, 2008 at 4:36 PM. William Carlos Williams uses very specific images in "The Young Housewife" to reveal not merely a particular circumstance or event, but to also suggest underlying themes and ideas of his subject matter. For example, he gives to the reader various real and imagined images, such her moving about in negligee behind closed doors, or her going about her daily affairs, that are at once very seductive and suggestive of ideas that supercede their appearances. These images especially accentuate the young housewife's naturalness and beauty. However, they are quickly contrasted by a comparison drawn by Williams of the young lady to a fallen leaf. fatma dashti from Kuwait Comment 5 of 6, added on February 25th, 2008 at 5:39 PM. I didnt understand this peom but as i read the peom over again for the second time i understood the meaning of this peom...it talks about how a young housewife becomes a young girl with a broken spirit and an old soul...captive in her husband house for she uis not able to call it her own....great peom Amalia P from United States Comment 4 of 6, added on December 16th, 2007 at 10:02 AM. I want to know what the poet want to say in third stanza.. Lee from Korea, South More Comments >> Are you looking for more information on this poem? Perhaps you are trying to analyze it? The poem, The Young Housewife, has received 6 comments. Click here to read them, and perhaps post a comment of your own. Of course you can also always discuss poems by William Carlos Williams with others on the American Poems poetry forum!

Poem Info
Poet: William Carlos Williams Poem: The Young Housewife Last read: Jul 24 2008, 12:59PM Poem of the Day: Dec 9 2005 Viewed 14365 times. Added on December 16th, 2007 at 10:02 AM.

Williams Info
Biography More Poems (59 poems) Books