Poetry Train Monday - 114 - Would Not Speak in Haste

I've been watching clips from British miniseries North & South over the weekend, and thought I'd turn the opening shot from the proposal scene into a found poem, using the text from Elizabeth Gaskell's novel.













Would Not Speak in Haste


Thornton stood by the window
Back to the door
Apparently absorbed in watching something
In the street

Apparently

In truth he was afraid
His heart beat thick
He could not forget the touch
Her arms around his neck

Her arms

Her clinging defence of him
Thrilled him through
Melting away all self-control
His heart throbbed quick

Her defence of him

Strong as he was, he trembled
Anticipating what he had to say
How it might be received
She might flutter to his arms. He feared a passionate rejection

He trembled

The idea withered up his future
He refused to think of it
Startled
He turned round

Withered

She had come in so gently
He had never heard her
Street noises more distinct than her slow movements
In her soft muslin gown

She had come in

She stood by the table
Her lids half over her eyes
Her lips just parted
All wan and pale to-day

She stood pale

Dark hair brought down to hide all sign
Of the blow she had received
Head thrown back, in the old proud attitude
She looked like some prisoner, falsely accused of a crime

A crime she loathed and despised

From which she was too indignant
To justify herself
Thornton went with quiet firmness to the door
And shut it

Too indignant

He came back, stood opposite
Receiving the impression of her beautiful presence
Before he dared disturb it
Perhaps to repel it

Before he dared

He was on the verge now
He would not speak in haste
He would weigh each word
He would

On the verge

His hot passion
Weigh each word
His will triumphant
He stopped in mid career

Stopped

- Elizabeth Gaskell, 1855

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