Poem-a-Day - "Dorothy Dances" by Louis Untermeyer

Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
Poem-a-Day is reader-supported. Your gift today will help the Academy of American Poets continue to publish the work of 260 poets each year, and share this series with 300,000 readers every day.
May 21, 2022 

Dorothy Dances

Louis Untermeyer

This is no child that dances. This is flame.
Here fire at last has found its natural frame.

What else is that which burns and flies
From those enkindled eyes...
What is that inner blaze
Which plays
About that lighted face?...
This thing is fire set free—
Fire possesses her, or rather she
Controls its mastery.
With every gesture, every rhythmic stride,
Beat after beat,
It follows, purring at her side,
Or licks the shadows of her flashing feet.
Around her everywhere
It coils its thread of yellow hair.
Through every vein its bright blood creeps,
And its red hands
Caress her as she stands
Or lift her boldly when she leaps.
Then, as the surge
Of radiance grows stronger
These two are two no longer
And they merge
Into a disembodied ecstasy;
Free
To express some half-forgotten hunger,
Some half-forbidden urge.

What mystery
Has been at work until it blent
One child and that fierce element?
Give it no name.
It is enough that flesh has danced with flame.

This poem is in the public domain. Published in Poem-a-Day on May 21, 2022, by the Academy of American Poets.

Subscribe to the Poem-a-Day Podcast 

  

“Dorothy Dances” appeared in Roast Leviathan (Harcourt, Brace and Company, 1923).

Louis Untermeyer, born October 1, 1885, in New York City, was a poet, essayist, critic, and anthologist. The author and editor of many collections, including the popular anthology of children’s verse, The Golden Treasury of Poetry (Golden Press, 1959), he formerly served as the fourteenth consultant in poetry to the Library of Congress, known today as the United States poet laureate. He died on December 18, 1977.
Roast Leviathan
(Harcourt, Brace and Company, 1923)

“Mystery” by D. H. Lawrence
read more
“At Eleusis” by H. D.
read more

Thanks to Brandy Nālani McDougall, author of The Salt-Wind: Ka Makani Pa‘Akai (Kuleana ‘Oiwi Press, 2008), who curated Poem-a-Day for this month’s weekdays. Listen to a Q&A about McDougall’s curatorial approach and find out more about our guest editors for the year
This free, daily series is made possible by our readers. If you’re able, please consider donating to support this work.
Become a monthly sustainer
join
Make a one-time gift
donate
Copyright © 2022 The Academy of American Poets, All rights reserved.
You are receiving this email because you opted in via our website.

Our mailing address is:
The Academy of American Poets
75 Maiden Lane
St #901
New York, NY 10038

Add us to your address book


View this email in your browser

Want to change how you receive these emails?
You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.

Older messages

"huki the gate" by kuʻualoha hoʻomanawanui

Friday, May 20, 2022

huki the gate— / work the lock with your fingers, Facebook Twitter Instagram Support Poem-a-Day May 20, 2022 huki the gate kuʻualoha hoʻomanawanui for Kauaʻi paniolo Uncle David Hepa and Uncle Keoki Ka

"Waikīkī Returns" by Christy Passion

Thursday, May 19, 2022

I do not have any memories of Waikīkī ever being like this Facebook Twitter Instagram Support Poem-a-Day May 19, 2022 Waikīkī Returns Christy Passion I do not have any memories of Waikīkī ever being

"Our Red Road" by Donovan Kūhiō Colleps

Wednesday, May 18, 2022

This morning I didn't even honi you when I came in. Facebook Twitter Instagram Support Poem-a-Day May 18, 2022 Our Red Road Donovan Kūhiō Colleps This morning I didn't even honi you when I came

Poems for the Outdoors and more

Tuesday, May 17, 2022

Support Poets.org May 17, 2022 Poems for the Outdoors As summer draws nearer and days grow longer, spend time reflecting outdoors with these poems: “Pastoral” by Djuna Barnes “Joy” by Clarissa Scott

"pronunciation" by Leora Kava

Tuesday, May 17, 2022

For now, we speak only in brooms: / sweeping sand across the teeth Facebook Twitter Instagram Support Poem-a-Day May 17, 2022 pronunciation Leora Kava For now, we speak only in brooms: sweeping sand

You Might Also Like

The priceless feeling of accomplishing something by yourself

Sunday, November 24, 2024

Or how writing a book without a partner to support me was harder than I thought... ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏

“THE ROAD TO FIEFDOM” (SHORT STORY)

Sunday, November 24, 2024

Friedrich Hayek sits at his desk, pen in hand, writing the kind of letter that cuts deeper than an apology. His sharp certainty worn blunt by watching his economic theories collide with reality. Free

Elizabeth Olsen’s Skin-Tight Mugler Dress Went Viral For The Second Time

Sunday, November 24, 2024

It's *that* good. The Zoe Report Daily The Zoe Report 11.23.2024 Elizabeth Olsen burgundy leather Mugler dress (Celebrity) Elizabeth Olsen's Skin-Tight Mugler Dress Went Viral For The Second

Do Wales, 2025.

Saturday, November 23, 2024

2 days to register ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏

All the Best Deals From Amazon's Black Friday Sale (So Far)

Saturday, November 23, 2024

All the Different Bars at the Gym, Explained. Find JBL party speakers, MacBook Airs, QLED TVs, Bose headphones, and Apple Watches at their lowest prices ever. Not displaying correctly? View this

Weekend: Avoiding Thanksgiving Dinner Drama 🦃

Saturday, November 23, 2024

— Check out what we Skimm'd for you today November 23, 2024 Subscribe Read in browser Header Image Together with apple gift card But first: a present anyone would love Update location or View

Half Turkey Day

Saturday, November 23, 2024

A new way to sell a ubiquitous product? ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏

"Thank God, I Glory in Thy Love!" by Frances Sargent Osgood

Saturday, November 23, 2024

Thank God, I glory in thy love, and mine! Facebook Twitter Instagram Poem-a-Day is reader-supported. Your gift today will help the Academy of American Poets continue to publish the work of 260 poets

Amazon's Black Friday Sale Just Dropped Early—Here's What We're Buying

Saturday, November 23, 2024

Prices that whisper "add to cart." The Zoe Report Daily The Zoe Report 11.22.2024 Early Prime Days (Shopping) Amazon's Black Friday Sale Just Dropped Early—Here's What We're

Aldis Hodge Is Here to Knock the Door Down

Friday, November 22, 2024

View in Browser Men's Health SHOP MVP EXCLUSIVES SUBSCRIBE RUBEN CHAMORRO Aldis Hodge Is Here to Knock the Door Down In Prime Video's Cross, the 38-year-old puts his wide array of skills to the