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Classic and Contemporary Poetry


HUNTRESS by HILDA DOOLITTLE

Poet Analysis

First Line: COME, BLUNT YOUR SPEAR WITH US
Last Line: AND DROP EXHAUSTED AT OUR FEET.
Subject(s): BIBLE; HUNTING; HUNTERS;

Come, blunt your spear with us,
our pace is hot
and our bare heels
in the heel-prints --
we stand tense -- do you see --
are you already beaten
by the chase?
We lead the pace
for the wind on the hills,
the low hill is spattered
with loose earth --
our feet cut into the crust
as with spears.
We climbed the ploughed land,
dragged the seed from the clefts,
broke the clods with our heels,
whirled with a parched cry
into the woods:
Can you come,
can you come,
can you follow the hound trail,
can you trample the hot froth?
Spring up -- sway forward --
follow the quickest one,
aye, though you leave the trail
and drop exhausted at our feet.




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