I don't understand the poem "Answering a Child" by Sarah Morgan Bryan Piatt.
I have to give a presentation about this poem in class.

Answering a Child

But if I should ask the king?
He could if he would? Ah! no.
THough he took from his hand the ring,
Though he took from his head the crown-
In the dust I sould lay them down.

If I sat at a fairy's feet?
A fairy could if she would?
(Oh! the fairy-faith is sweet.)
Though she gave me her wand and her wings,
To me they were pitiful things.

Ask God? He can if He will?
He is better than fairies or kings?
(Ask God? He would whisper: "Be Still.")
Though He gave me each star I can see
Through my tears, it were nothing to me.

"He can do"----But He cannot undo
The terrible darkened gate
Which the fire of His will went through,
Leading the Dead away;
For the Past it is vain to pray.

Thank you so much for your help!
-Marcie

Cool - I haven't seen this one before, nor am I familiar at all with the author. First reading impressions are always suspect, but some thoughts that occur:

Four five-line stanzas, mostly iambic & anapestic trimeter, each stanza rhyming axabb

The title seems to suggest the poem is in response to a difficult question asked by a child, possibly on the subject of death - something/someone loved has passed away and the child wants to know if life can be restored.

Could the king be petitioned for such relief? Perhaps a fairy could help? Apparently not - death is forever and cannot be reversed.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/29/2006 10:13AM by Hugh Clary.

I'm not familiar with Piatt either, Hugh, so I was surprised when one of the biographies I read said that the was probably the second most important female poet of the 19th century, behind Emily Dickinson. Here's a brief bio.: [www.learner.org]

Les



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/29/2006 12:36PM by lg.