Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

BACK-VIEW by WILLIAM ERNEST HENLEY

Poet Analysis

First Line: I WATCHED YOU SAUNTER DOWN THE SAND
Last Line: ENCHANTING, COMIC, JAPANESE!
Subject(s): WOMEN;
I watched you saunter down the sand:
Serene and large, the golden weather
Flowed radiant round your peacock feather,
And glistered from your jewelled hand.
Your tawny hair, turned strand on strand
And bound with the blue ribands together,
Streaked the rough tartan, green like heather,
That round your lissome shoulder spanned.
Your grace was quick my sense to seize:
The quaint looped hat, the twisted tresses,
The close-drawn scarf, and under these
The flowing, flapping draperies --
My thought an outline still caresses,
Enchanting, comic, Japanese!



Home: PoetryExplorer.net