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Conversation Among The Ruins

Through portico of my elegant house you stalk
With your wild furies, disturbing garlands of fruit
And the fabulous lutes and peacocks, rending the net
Of all decorum which holds the whirlwind back.
Now, rich order of walls is fallen; rooks croak
Above the appalling ruin; in bleak light
Of your stormy eye, magic takes flight
Like a daunted witch, quitting castle when real days break.

Fractured pillars frame prospects of rock;
While you stand heroic in coat and tie, I sit
Composed in Grecian tunic and psyche-knot,
Rooted to your black look, the play turned tragic:
Which such blight wrought on our bankrupt estate,

What ceremony of words can patch the havoc?

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Comments


  • gracep
    April 10, 2006
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    i love the play of words. the use of several images and the end stating, "what ceremony of words can patcha the havoc?" i'd like to believe she can only muster such grand design in poetry if there is an object that can reciprocate her wit.

  • Angelic Eyes
    June 23, 2005
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    I feel there are many ways to take this poem.. I agree with Pozo's comment however it can also be taken like she and her husband lost their luxuries.. bankrupt.. seems like alot of stress was on her plate here.. She has quite a way with words, I would like to know her thoughts and emotions behind these writes.. yet I know that will never happen.. It is quite different to read these without any conversation with the autor as we have on allpoetry.. yet we are alive, she sadly took her life and we will never know the true meaning of these wonderful writes.

  • Ava Noire
    June 11, 2005
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    This is not one of my favorites of hers. But I still enjoyed reading it. And I did like the line,
    "Through portico of my elegant house you stalk
    With your wild furies, disturbing garlands of fruit." Her description as always is top notch


  • pozo
    September 28, 2004
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    I came to this poem because I was inspired to do so by a poet on allpoetry who was inspired by this poem to write something very beautiful I think this poem is about how just one person can ruin perfection. I liked her symbolism in this piece and some symbolism which made me think this was 'my elegant house you stalk', as to 'stalk' is to watch disturbingly and the house is 'elegant'- speaking of luxury.
    As always with Plath this was an interesting write which I liked a lot. It inspired me to read more of her work.