Jane Austen's Heroine

Exploded pantoum.

Ankle deep in the countryside mud amongst the weeds and wildflowers,
a solitary figure engulfed by the sunset accents the horizon,
the feminine silhouette cannot outshine the sun
this she has learned to spite what her forsaken lover's poetry claimed.

A solitary figure engulfed by the sunset accents the horizon,
she is looking for her identity so she may be free of the mask men have given her.
Needlepoint amuses her only on the rainy days, poetry after dinner
and the occupation of men, forbidden to her is what she desires.

She is looking for her identity so she may be free of the mask men have given her.
The chance to be more than just a woman-- fainting, swooning, frail and uneducated
excites her. She can get by on more than her charms, she will marry only for love
and that love will be on her terms. This silhouette will redefine what is to be a woman.

The chance to be more than just a woman-- fainting, swooning, frail and uneducated
to be more like a man does appeal to her. She has idolized her father her entire life
and would be his chosen and kept caretaker and companion when her mother is gone.
That is an option. This woman was not made to stand amongst roses, but mud and weeds.

To be more like a man does appeal to her. She has idolized her father her entire life,
and she has seen his respectability in a gentleman who invigorates and infuriates her.
He may ask her in more than one way if she will be his, and her answer will be the same.
"No, you must be mine. Come back when you are not so proud and more sensible."

She has seen his respectability in a gentleman who invigorates and infuriates her
and that is why she cannot tell her father why she wanders into the English countryside
to look into the beauty of the sunset, to mourn for her resolve that may as well
have made her an old maid. The loss of her equal is heartbreaking

and that is why she cannot tell her father why she wanders into the English countryside
to march through the ankle deep mud, ruining her petticoat to reflect and wonder
why she is so strong willed, why she refuses to settle for the parson
or why she was so keen on the sullied solider. Why must there be all these emotions

to march through the ankle deep mud, ruining her petticoat to reflect and wonder?
She may not be the most handsome girl in the county, but she is a woman of substance
and that, she has learned, is what frightens men the most. It is also makes her
endearing to her chosen bachelor, though she is trying to forget about him.

She may not be the most handsome girl in the county, but she is a woman of substance
who allows herself to be ruled by her heart and mind. She looks into the West
towards ----shire and dares to think that the galloping shadow she sees is
her humbled and sensible bachelor riding towards her.

Who allows herself to be ruled by her heart and mind? She looks into the West
and acknowledges that there is place for him to govern as well. She is humbled,
and he won't make any sense when he comes to her from the West to ask her again
ankle deep in the countryside mud amongst the weeds and wildflowers.
 

Reviews

[The Musings of Mary H.]

Wow! This poem is amazing! I'm a Jane Austen fan myself and I did see her in your words. A very intelligent poem, indeed!

"She may not be the most handsome girl in the county, but she is a woman of substance
who allows herself to be ruled by her heart and mind."

[prettyzombiegirl]

I absolutely love Jane Austin and this poem!