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Poems by Women

Apology

Amy Lowell

Be not angry with me that I bear
      Your colours everywhere,
      All through each crowded street,
         And meet
      The wonder-light in every eye,
         As I go by.

Each plodding wayfarer looks up to gaze,
      Blinded by rainbow haze,
      The stuff of happiness,
         No less,
      Which wraps me in its glad-hued folds
         Of peacock golds.

Before my feet the dusty, rough-paved way
      Flushes beneath its gray.
      My steps fall ringed with light,
         So bright,
      It seems a myriad suns are strown
         About the town.

Around me is the sound of steepled bells,
      And rich perfuméd smells
      Hang like a wind-forgotten cloud,
         And shroud
      Me from close contact with the world.
         I dwell impearled.

You blazon me with jewelled insignia.
      A flaming nebula
      Rims in my life. And yet
         You set
      The word upon me, unconfessed
         To go unguessed.

From Sword Blades and Poppy Seeds By Amy Lowell

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This collection assembled by Jone Johnson Lewis.
Collection © 1999-2002 Jone Johnson Lewis.

Citing poems from these pages:

Author. "Poem Title."  Women's History: Poems by Women. Jone Johnson Lewis, editor. URL: (date of logon)

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