Stevens' "Depression Before Spring"

Eliza azilE · Apr 20, 2013

Depression Before Spring
by Wallace Stevens

The cock crows
But no queen rises.

The hair of my blonde
Is dazzling,
As the spittle of cows
threading the wind.

Ho! Ho!

But ki-ki-ri-ki
Brings no rou-cou,
No rou-cou-cou.

But no queen comes
In slipper green.

_____

That second stanza's really frustrating me. Really, the syntax is so crazy I don't think I have to get too deep into why it's causing me problems.

Can anyone find a way in?

thehairymob · Apr 21, 2013

I wouldn't have thought of cow's spittle as dazzling. Maybe another image would work better to convey your idea like dew on a spiders web or young buds of trees.

Ambrosia · Apr 22, 2013

I'm just glad the poem's in the public domain.

I love it.

What an image--comparing a woman's hair to cow spittle! Utter brilliance.

Adelaide · Apr 22, 2013

Wallace Stevens seems like a crazy dude to me. "Spittle of cows" just kind of confirms it! haha I do think that stanza is brilliant. I see how the syntax is odd, but I like it. Sly and cheeky.

Eliza azilE · Apr 22, 2013

Alright. Clearer. Thanks.

Stevens' "Depression Before Spring"

Eliza azilE

thehairymob

If I had a brain I'd still be dumb

Ambrosia

Grand Duchess

Adelaide

Eliza azilE