Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

SMOTHERED FIRES by GEORGIA DOUGLAS JOHNSON

Poet Analysis

First Line: A WOMAN WITH A BURNING FLAME
Last Line: SHE BREATHED A SOFT—GOOD-NIGHT!
Subject(s): AFRICAN AMERICANS - WOMEN; PASSION;
A woman with a burning flame
Deep covered through the years
With ashes. Ah! she hid it deep,
And smothered it with tears.

Sometimes a baleful light would rise
From out the dusky bed,
And then the woman hushed it quick
To slumber on, as dead.

At last the weary war was done
The tapers were alight,
And with a sigh of victory
She breathed a soft—good-night!



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