Stealing Poem by Carol Ann Duffy

Stealing

Rating: 4.1


The most unusual thing I ever stole? A snowman.
Midnight. He looked magnificent; a tall, white mute
beneath the winter moon. I wanted him, a mate
with a mind as cold as the slice of ice
within my own brain. I started with the head.
Better off dead than giving in, not taking
what you want. He weighed a ton; his torso,
frozen stiff, hugged to my chest, a fierce chill
piercing my gut. Part of the thrill was knowing
that children would cry in the morning. Life's tough.
Sometimes I steal things I don't need. I joy-ride cars
to nowhere, break into houses just to have a look.
I'm a mucky ghost, leave a mess, maybe pinch a camera.
I watch my gloved hand twisting the doorknob.
A stranger's bedroom. Mirrors. I sigh like this - Aah.
It took some time. Reassembled in the yard,
he didn't look the same. I took a run
and booted him. Again. Again. My breath ripped out
in rags. It seems daft now. Then I was standing
alone among lumps of snow, sick of the world.
Boredom. Mostly I'm so bored I could eat myself.
One time, I stole a guitar and thought I might
learn to play. I nicked a bust of Shakespeare once,
flogged it, but the snowman was the strangest.
You don't understand a word I'm saying, do you?

COMMENTS OF THE POEM
EddyB 18 August 2019

Sorry, but I think this is one of the worst poems I've ever read.

41 64 Reply
ra 25 March 2022

your wrong

12 9
Melissa Cain 11 November 2022

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0 6 Reply
MAHTAB BANGALEE 10 November 2022

Again. My breath ripped out in rags. It seems daft now. Then I was standing alone among lumps of snow, sick of the world.~ just amazing to read

4 4 Reply
Yocheved Saksenberg 01 November 2022

This is one of my favourites; it's beautiful

5 3 Reply
Obi1 Come Blow Me 13 June 2022

this is horrible so boring

15 11 Reply
Obi 1 13 June 2023

No I'm not dead I'm here

0 0
McC 20 August 2022

Obi1 is dead. Blow on yourself.

4 1
Unkown 20 April 2022

All of the comments are full of delinquents, no one understands the true meaning and depth in the poem. You have to understand the meaning before saying something dumb

18 4 Reply
mum 16 August 2022

what is the meaning then?

7 0
READ THIS POEM IN OTHER LANGUAGES
Carol Ann Duffy

Carol Ann Duffy

Glasgow / Scotland
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