Danse Russe Poem by William Carlos Williams

Danse Russe

Rating: 2.9


If I when my wife is sleeping
and the baby and Kathleen
are sleeping
and the sun is a flame-white disc
in silken mists
above shining trees,—
if I in my north room
dance naked, grotesquely
before my mirror
waving my shirt round my head
and singing softly to myself:
'I am lonely, lonely.
I was born to be lonely,
I am best so! '
If I admire my arms, my face,
my shoulders, flanks, buttocks
against the yellow drawn shades,—

Who shall say I am not
the happy genius of my household?

Danse Russe
COMMENTS OF THE POEM
Robert Rorabeck 15 April 2008

this is probably my favorite of his poems....

12 3 Reply
Keen Butterworth 30 January 2016

This is one of the great short poems of the language. Every detail is significant. It is about the plight of every artist: isolation, loneliness, narcissism. And the artist's transcendence through transformation and transfiguration. The artist is awake: everyone else is asleep. Keen Butterworth

5 2 Reply
* Sunprincess * 31 August 2015

...........nice write...keep penning ★

1 4 Reply
* Sunprincess * 31 August 2015

...........nice write...keep penning ★

0 5 Reply
Anitah Muwanguzi 21 December 2015

hahahhahah. This poem is very interesting and vivid. Can't stop laughing.

2 1 Reply
Eren Karadas 08 August 2016

deneme deneme deneme deneme

0 2 Reply
Ray Burleigh 23 April 2016

This poem shocked me into drunken laughter when I first read it...and I had no drink...but it awoke my need to find a voice that was both honest and simple...bless you WCW...you are a saint for us all to revere

4 2 Reply
Jasbir Chatterjee 28 March 2016

nice poem! It's a good thing that the author finds peace in his own company in his own house, instead of seeking it in the arms of another woman.

2 1 Reply
Susan Williams 27 March 2016

Could this poem fall under the category TMI? Even if it does, I was laughing go hard because don't we all do the I am so great dance when we are all alone?

20 2 Reply
Joseph Ojogba Daniel 27 March 2016

Sometimes in loneliness we find who we are. Thanks for shearing.

3 1 Reply
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