A Photograph

John Charles McNeill 1874 – 1907



When in this room I turn in pondering pace
And find thine eyes upon me where I stand,
Led on, as by Enemo's silken strand,
I come and gaze and gaze upon thy face.
  
Framed round by silence, poised on pearl-white grace
Of curving throat, too sweet for beaded band,
It seems as if some wizard's magic wand
Had wrought thee for the love of all the race.
  
Dear face, that will not turn about to see
The tulips, glorying in the casement sun,
Or, other days, the drizzled raindrops run
  
Down the damp walls, but follow only me,
Would that Pygmalion's goddess might be won
To change this lifeless image into thee!
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Submitted on August 03, 2020

Modified on March 05, 2023

35 sec read
11

Quick analysis:

Scheme ABBA ABXA CDD CDC
Closest metre Iambic pentameter
Characters 598
Words 116
Stanzas 4
Stanza Lengths 4, 4, 3, 3

John Charles McNeill

John Charles McNeill (1874-1907) was a Wake Forest alumni and one of North Carolina's most celebrated poets. His published works include Songs of Merry and Sad and Lyrics From the Cotton Land, the latter of which was published posthumously. more…

All John Charles McNeill poems | John Charles McNeill Books

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    "A Photograph" Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 28 Mar. 2024. <https://www.poetry.com/poem/55846/a-photograph>.

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