The woman is perfected. Her dead Body wears the smile of…
““The woman is perfected. Her dead Body wears the smile of accomplishment, The illusion of a Greek necessity Flows in the scrolls of her toga, Her bare Feet seem to be saying: We have come so far, it is over. Each dead child coiled, a white serpent, One at each little Pitcher of milk, now empty. She has folded Them back into her body as petals Of a rose close when the garden Stiffens and odors bleed From the sweet, deep throats of the night flower. The moon has nothing to be sad about, Staring from her hood of bone. She is used to this sort of thing. Her blacks crackle and drag.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The poem portrays a woman confronting death, loss, and the cyclical nature of life, using vivid, gothic imagery to reflect on mortality and resilience.
In simple terms: A woman faces death and loss with haunting imagery.
Key Takeaway
Embrace the darkness and find strength.
Themes
mortality
grief
resilience
identity
transformation
Mood
somber
reflective
intense
Type
poetic
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- funeral rites
- personal mourning
- artistic expression
- psychological introspection
Key Concepts
existentialism
feminist critique
symbolism
Questions to Reflect On
- What does the “white serpent” symbolize?
- How does the poem’s tone affect your perception of death?
A Different Perspective
The abstract imagery may obscure concrete meaning for some readers.