Some poetry problems

Question

Hello people. I've been struggling with some poetry issues today. Here are some of my problems...

Quotations:

"Nor bridegroom's voice e'er heard shall be.
In silence ever shall thou lie,"
-----------------------------------------------
Does it mean that she had a husband, that is now dead? Or does it mean, that there might be seen her husband, but she had not one yet anyway?

"The body where he sets his heel
Quail from your downward darting kiss."
-----------------------------------------------
What does this sentence mean? Please paraphrase it and give me the clue.

About "Sister Steel" - weapon (rifle):
"She glitters naked, cold and fair."
-----------------------------------------------
Does cold and fair mean "calm and proud"? Or...?

Thank you in advance.

Spocik · Accepted Answer

Ohh... Come on, I need your help as soon as possible <img class='emoticon' style='Width:19px;Height:19px;' data-delaysrc='https://uat-englishforward-forums-backend.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/Emoticons/1.gif' src='https://uat-englishforward-forums-backend.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/Emoticons/1.gif' alt='Emotion: smile'/>

Anonymous · Answer

"Nor bridegroom's voice e'er heard shall be.
In silence ever shall thou lie,"
This means the woman never had - and never will have - a husband.

"The body where he sets his heel
Quail from your downward darting kiss."
I think we need a little more context on this one.

About "Sister Steel" - weapon (rifle):
"She glitters naked, cold and fair."
"Cold" doubles here for cold in temperature (being naked, and being metal, it would be cold to the touch), as well as impartial or emotionally distant. "Fair" is usually, in poetry, meant to describe a person's appearance - it can mean either pale, or beautiful. I'm not familiar with this poem, but I suspect "fair" is also doubling here as "just," making the weapon a sort of impartial judge.

Some poetry problems

Top answer

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

Related Questions