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Show Teacher, Club Woman, Mother 169 There is also a poem about the return of Harold, written in her Denver home when he was away on one of his many trips. "Welcome" is intense, and is built around sensory images of sight and touch. The single metaphor, the "all-consuming flame," represents inner feeling, both physical and emotional. The tone of the poem is rather melancholy; its image suggest both love and hurt, passion and restraint-the complexity of the emotional life of a long-married couple who have had disagree ment and disillusionment and still love each other deeply. WELCOME You will come back again, dear my beloved, And clasp my cheeks with your strong, cupping hands, And with your hurt and tender eyes seek mine Once empty-now, my dear, I'll keep them closed Lest you should see the all-consuming flame That surges warm from heart to At thought of your returning. finger-tips At the first touch of hesitating hand I'll smile the old hard motion of the lips Then reaching quickly 'ere you slip away I'll press your eyelids over those sad eyes And then, our lips together-they shall speak The joy of your returning. The "hurt and tender eyes," "hesitating hand," "hard motion of the lips," and "sad eyes" make this less than a something really happy poem. The poem may suggest that Madelyn had not resolved the tensions she felt about the roles her culture for her as a married woman. The 1940s American cul scripted required that a wife be always sweet and kind, that her pride come from what she did for her husband. Wives were sup posed to be filled with good thoughts, should not think ill of others. Almost afraid of her deeper feelings, Madelyn may sometimes have felt unworthy because she was not picture per ture fect. Raised on the ethic of service, as a woman who felt partic ularly obligated, Madelyn usually sacrificed her own interests for those of Harold. There was a tightness in her lips perhaps |
