I, being born a woman and distressed
By all the needs and notions of my kind,
Am urged by your propinquity to find
Your person fair, and feel a certain zest
To bear your body's weight upon my breast:
So subtly is the fume of life designed,
To clarify the pulse and cloud the mind,
And leave me once again undone, possessed.
Think not for this, however, the poor treason
Of my stout blood against my staggering brain,
I shall remember you with love, or season
My scorn wtih pity, -- let me make it plain:
I find this frenzy insufficient reason
For conversation when we meet again.
Find this poem interesting for the simple fact that the poet seems very perplexed by love.
Rather a clever short poem with an interesting twist in the tail. I'd never heard of Edna St V M until I started reading '[Death Du Jour' by Kathy Reichs, 'I Being Born a Woman and Distressed' was mentioned. Having nothing better to do I looked it up...what a clever poem, what an interesting woman!
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
I would like to translate this poem
The poem seems to speak about the woman being forced to endure the pleasures and treatment of a man. Putting on a face of admiration and concern in order to Survive. Not wanting to deal with him should they meet again.