Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

COMPLAINT by WILLIAM CARLOS WILLIAMS

Poem Explanation Poet Analysis

First Line: THEY CALL ME AND I GO
Last Line: WITH COMPASSION.
Subject(s): PHYSICIANS; DOCTORS;
They call me and I go.
It is a frozen road
past midnight, a dust
of snow caught
in the rigid wheeltracks.
The door opens.
I smile, enter and
shake off the cold.
Here is a great woman
on her side in the bed.
She is sick,
perhaps vomiting,
perhaps laboring
to give birth to
a tenth child. Joy! Joy!
Night is a room
darkened for lovers,
through the jalousies the sun
has sent one gold needle!
I pick the hair from her eyes
and watch her misery
with compassion.



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