What Would They Say? Poem by Alfonsina Storni

What Would They Say?

Rating: 4.3


What would the people say, reduced and empty,
If one fortuitous day, by some extreme fantasy,
I were to dye my hair silvery and violet, were to wear an old greek gown, exchanging the comb
for a circlet of flowers: forget-me-nots or jasmines,
were to sing through the streets to the rhythm of the violins,
or were to read my verses aloud, traveling the plazas
my gusto freed of common gags?

Would they go to watch me, covering the sidewalks?
Would they burn me like they burned enchantresses?
Would they ring the bells, calling to mass?

In truth, when I think of it, I laugh a little.

COMMENTS OF THE POEM
Zoe Copeland 16 October 2019

As a sparser poet, 'reduced and empty' speaks a lot to me. I wouldn't like to draw any observation on Alfonsina's effusions; nor would I - would less - vaunt her maturer poems when she was suffering from cancer: a whole world (" the globe" ;) , reflected on the surface of a teardrop, like a fisheye lens.

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Ratnakar Mandlik 14 October 2016

A beautiful sweet fantasy. Thanks for sharing it here.

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M Asim Nehal 21 January 2016

Nice poem, a thought for the mind.

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Ratnakar Mandlik 21 January 2016

A thought provoking and meaningful poem. Thanks for sharing.

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Manonton Dalan 21 January 2016

I enjoy reading her poems she might have good reason she was not fan or fun of men.

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