GOING to him! Happy letter! Tell him— Tell him the page I…
““GOING to him! Happy letter! Tell him— Tell him the page I did n’t write; Tell him I only said the syntax, And left the verb and the pronoun out. Tell him just how the fingers hurried, 5 Then how they waded, slow, slow, slow; And then you wished you had eyes in your pages, So you could see what moved them so. “Tell him it was n’t a practised writer, You guessed, from the way the sentence toiled; 10 You could hear the bodice tug, behind you, As if it held but the might of a child; You almost pitied it, you, it worked so. Tell him—No, you may quibble there, For it would split his heart to know it, 15 And then you and I were silenter. “Tell him night finished before we finished, And the old clock kept neighing ‘day!’ And you got sleepy and begged to be ended— What could it hinder so, to say? 20 Tell him just how she sealed you, cautious, But if he ask where you are hid Until to-morrow,—happy letter! Gesture, coquette, and shake your head!””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
In simple terms: The poem uses fragmented language to convey frustration with communication, artistic expression, and the desire for understanding.
Key Takeaway
Struggle to convey thoughts clearly.
Themes
Seek clarity in expression.
Mood
introspective
melancholic
Type
literary
poetic
When to use this quote
- literature
- syntax
Key Concepts
communication
artistry
frustration
Practical Applications
- writing
- editing
- creative process
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you handle misunderstood ideas?
- What tools improve your writing?
A Different Perspective
Words may never fully capture feeling.