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Lewis Carroll (27 January 1832 – 14 January 1898 / Cheshire)
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My Fancy
I painted her a gushing thing,
With years about a score;
I little thought to find they were
A least a dozen more;
My fancy gave her eyes of blue,
A curly auburn head:
I came to find the blue a green,
The auburn turned to red.
She boxed my ears this morning,
They tingled very much;
I own that I could wish her
A somewhat lighter touch;
And if you ask me how
Her charms might be improved,
I would not have them added to,
But just a few removed!
She has the bear's ethereal grace,
The bland hyaena's laugh,
The footstep of the elephant,
The neck of a giraffe;
I love her still, believe me,
Though my heart its passion hides;
"She's all my fancy painted her,"
But oh! how much besides!
Read poems about / on: passion, believe, green, red, heart
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I don't find this poem tainted by perversion in the slightest bit. Boys will be boys, and I think we should leave it at that. I personally think that this writing shows the affection this man feels for his lady, and all the physical flaws that bring out her non-physical perfection. (it's what's on the inside that counts)
This is the most misogynistic poem ever written. Carroll should stick to his little girls and leave the women alone.
The claim that he loves this women despite his vile abuse of her is a species of perversion. There is something deeply corrupt about this poet which does not show in his Alice stories, but is evident in other writings.
We've become so accustomed to poets gushing over their female subjects, that when a less than flattering tone is employed, hateful motives are attributed to the poet. By treating his lady with thinly veiled scorn, Carroll is showing respect for women as equals; flowery, puffy language would be condescending.
a piece of doggerel.
Very clever but what a sexist poem. What's so amusing? Do you really think that degrading a women, be she fictitious or not, a good thing. Even taken in its historical context with poor Carrol unable to relate to 'real women' it's very mean spirited. Hated it.
hahaha! only Lewis could write such a venomous piece and still make it sound like poetic justice and flow so beautifully....don of a man...i love hiawathas photographing as the greatest piece of humour ive ever read especially when shared with the art of Arthur B Frost......
good very intresting
Another page of the imaginative genius of Carroll
Easy to read and very funny :) Lewis Caroll is one of my favorites to turn to when I want to laugh!
A sniggering, hateful little poem that has nothing to do with anyone real, but is a chance for Carroll to show off his 'wit'. This poem is the hymn of a woman-hater, who is a woman-hater because he is a woman-fearer, and is for more comfortable with little girls than the real thing!
The word “thing” in the first line betrays Carroll’s view of women as objects. In the last verse, he remorsely destroys the woman’s image by comparing her to a bear, a hyaena, and elephant and a giraffe – a verse in which his wit no longer serves to cover his hatred. Oh, how hilarious!
And how can this woman be “all my fancy painted her…” when he has said before in the poem that he knows she is not?