IN MASKS OUTRAGEOUS AND AUSTERE
American poet and novelist, Elinor Wylie was ‘famous during her life almost as much for her ethereal beauty and personality as for her melodious, sensuous poetry.’ I love this poem, Now Let No Charitable Hope, written in 1922 for its gravely mocking, but darkly playful mood. Love Susie. x
Now Let No Charitable Hope
Now let no charitable hope
Confuse my mind with images
Of eagle and of antelope:
I am by nature none of these.
I was, being human, born alone;
I am, being woman, hard beset;
I live by squeezing from a stone
What little nourishment I get.
In masks outrageous and austere
The years go by in single file;
But none has merited my fear,
And none has quite escaped my smile.