Tori+K

By: Theodore Roethke


I knew a woman, lovely in her bones, When small birds sighed, she would sigh back at them; Ah, when she moved, she moved more ways than one: The shapes a bright container can contain! Of her choice virtues only gods should speak, Or English poets who grew up on Greek (I'd have them sing in chorus, cheek to cheek.)

How well her wishes went! She stroked my chin, She taught me Turn, and Counter-turn, and stand; She taught me Touch, that undulant white skin: I nibbled meekly from her proffered hand; She was the sickle; I, poor I, the rake, Coming behind her for her pretty sake (But what prodigious mowing did we make.)

Love likes a gander, and adores a goose: Her full lips pursed, the errant note to seize; She played it quick, she played it light and loose; My eyes, they dazzled at her flowing knees; Her several parts could keep a pure repose, Or one hip quiver with a mobile nose (She moved in circles, and those circles moved.)

Let seed be grass, and grass turn into hay: I'm martyr to a motion not my own; What's freedom for? To know eternity. I swear she cast a shadow white as stone. But who would count eternity in days? These old bones live to learn her wanton ways: (I measure time by how a body sways.)


 * TPCASTT**
 * Title**: “I knew a woman” The title suggests that the speaker is describing a woman. It is also probable that he is in love with this woman. By using the past tense of know suggests that the author no longer knows the woman.
 * Paraphrase**: The speaker of the poem is a man in love with another woman. He begins the poem describing that the woman is beautiful in all ways not just from the outside but also the inside. The second stanza of the poem is more sexual and talks about the woman’s movements and how her body physically looks. The third stanza describes the woman’s skill and how good of a lover she is. The final stanza is in present tense unlike the rest of the poem. The man is now old and it confirms the belief that the love was in the past and that they are no longer together.
 * Connotation:** Throughout the poem many words can be taken to mean different things. In the first stanza the speaker uses references to Greek theater and language to ensure the reader understands that he is using the proper not slang definitions of certain words. However, this ensures that the reader will think about the slang definitions. The speaker also uses the line “lovely in her bones.” This suggests that the woman is not only beautiful on the surface but also beautiful within. In the second stanza the movements “Turn,” “Counter-Turn,” and “stand” are all used. These can be referenced with, again, the ancient Greek theater or simply dancing. Regardless, these meanings portray the idea that the woman is beautiful in the way she moves. The speaker also uses the word “Touch” and capitalizes it. He is using this word, not in the way of the 5 senses but in an almost masterfully way. He uses it to portray the woman as an artist or musician. The continuous mention of curvature emphasizes the ideal woman and how this woman matches this. The mention of “touch” and the portrayal of the woman as an artist is emphasized in the third stanza by the mention of “quick,” “light,” and “loose.” These words all describe what can be viewed as an artist. The last stanza switches from past tense to present tense. This confirms the idea that the woman was someone he once knew. “These old bones,” prove that the man is now old and he is thinking back to the time that he once knew this woman.
 * Attitude:** The speaker is obviously in love with the woman he is writing his poem about. Every word in the poem has positive connotations and involves how beautiful the woman is whether it is her looks, her personality or the way she moves. It is only in the last stanza that the tone becomes somber. This is when the poem switches from past to present tense and the man is no longer with the woman. He is sad reminiscing about the days he was with her.
 * Shift:** The only main shift occurs between the third and fourth stanza. The first three stanzas of the poem are in the past tense because the man is describing a woman he once knew. The fourth stanza is in present tense because it focuses on the speaker and who he is in the present.
 * Theme**: The main theme of this poem is love.
 * Title**: The title of the poem does describe a woman a man once knew. He was in love with every aspect of her. To this day he still thinks about her and even loves her.

[|Voice Thread]