Poetry Explorer


Classic and Contemporary Poetry


THE GREY WOLF by ARTHUR WILLIAM SYMONS

Poet Analysis

First Line: THE GREY WOLF COMES AGAIN:I HAD MADE FAST
Last Line: THIS TIME, UNLESS I FEED YOU WITH MY HEART?
Subject(s): WOLVES;

The grey wolf comes again: I had made fast
The door with chains; how has the grey wolf passed
My threshold? I have nothing left to give:
Go from me now, grey wolf, and let me live!
I have fed you once, given all you would, given all
I had to give, I have been prodigal;
I am poor now, the table is but spread
With water and a little wheaten bread;
You have taken all I ever had from me:
Go from me now, grey wolf, and let me be!

The grey wolf, crouching by the bolted door,
Waits, watching for his food upon the floor;
I see the old hunger and the old thirst of blood
Rise up, under his eyelids, like a flood:
What shall I do that the grey wolf may go?
This time, I have no store of meat to throw;
He waits; but I have nothing, and I stand
Helpless, and his eyes fasten on my hand.
O grey wolf, grey wolf, will you not depart,
This time, unless I feed you with my heart?



Home: PoetryExplorer.net