Carol Ann Duffy

Lyrics

6 ContributorsPygmalion’s Bride LyricsCold, I was, like snow, like ivory.
I thought "He will not touch me",
but he did.
He kissed my stone-cool lips.
I lay still
as though I’d died.
He stayed.
He thumbed my marbled eyes.
He spoke -
blunt endearments, what he’d do and how.
His words were terrible.
My ears were sculpture,
stone-deaf shells.
I heard the sea.
I drowned him out.
I heard him shout.

He brought me presents, polished pebbles,
little bells.
I didn’t blink,
was dumb.
He brought me pearls and necklaces and rings.
He called them girly things.
He ran his clammy hands along my limbs.
I didn’t shrink,
played statue, shtum.
He let his fingers sink into my flesh,
he squeezed, he pressed.
I would not bruise.
He looked for marks,
for purple hearts,
for inky stars, for smudgy clues.
His nails were claws.
I showed no scratch, no scrape, no scar.
He propped me up on pillows,
jawed all night.
My heart was ice, was glass.
His voice was gravel, hoarse.
He talked white black.
So I changed tack,
grew warm, like candle wax,
kissed back,
was soft, was pliable,
began to moan,
got hot, got wild,
arched, coiled, writhed,
begged for his child,
and at the climax
screamed my head off -
all an act.
And haven’t seen him since.
Simple as thatEmbed

Pygmalion's Bride by Carol Ann Duffy is a captivating poem that is part of her renowned collection, 'The World's Wife.' Published in 1999, this collection presents stories, myths, fairy tales, and characters from Western culture, but from the perspective of women. In a world dominated by patriarchal literature, Duffy aims to rectify the long-standing ignorance and silencing of women. Through her witty, satirical, and complex poems, she sheds light on the experiences and voices that have been overshadowed for far too long.

The poem Pygmalion's Bride delves into the transformation of Pygmalion's creation from the point of view of the bride. In Greek mythology, Pygmalion, a skilled sculptor, fashioned a statue of a woman named Galatea so beautiful that he fell in love with her. With his desperate plea to the goddess Aphrodite, Galatea is brought to life. This iconic story has seen various adaptations over the ages, such as Pinocchio and Shakespeare's The Winter's Tale, each exploring themes of transformation, redemption, and the consequences of meddling with human emotions.

About Pygmalion's Bride

Pygmalion's Bride is a thought-provoking poem that exposes the relationship between Pygmalion, portrayed as an insensitive autocrat, and Galatea, his creation. Duffy highlights Pygmalion's self-centered desires and his failure to acknowledge or respect Galatea's needs. When Galatea attempts to assert herself, Pygmalion loses interest and rejects her, leading to a sense of amused contempt from the bride. Through this narrative, the poem delves into the theme of male insensitivity and the desire for control, showcasing the resulting consequences and the power dynamics in relationships.

Structured into seven stanzas of varying lengths, Pygmalion's Bride takes the reader through the different stages of Pygmalion and Galatea's relationship. Each stanza represents a distinct phase, beginning with the creation of the lifeless statue and progressing to Galatea's development into a sentient, yet cold human. As the poem unfolds, Galatea transforms into a warm and responsive woman, ultimately becoming a passionate lover whose desires alienate the very man who brought her into existence. Duffy's use of concise and short lines amplifies the emotional impact of each stage of their relationship, engaging the reader from start to finish.

While Pygmalion's Bride lacks a regular rhyme scheme, Duffy skillfully employs consonance, assonance, and strategic rhyming to enhance the poem's impact in key moments. She expertly weaves together words like "rings" and "things," as well as "limbs" and "shrink" to create a harmonious and evocative composition. In paragraph 5, Duffy's use of "clues" in one line followed by the consonant "claws" in the next creates a vibrant and memorable sequence. Through her masterful use of rhyme and sound, Duffy ensures that each line resonates with the reader, embedding the poem deep within their memory.

Duffy's language and imagery in Pygmalion's Bride are raw, concise, and laden with sentiment. The first-person narrative voice of the bride provides an intimate view of the events as they unfold. Her words are unsentimental and colloquial, offering a stark contrast to occasional moments of lyricism that add depth to the poem. For instance, the bride describes herself as having "ears [that] were sculpture/stone deaf shells," a haunting sentence that reveals her isolation and the insensitivity surrounding her existence. The overall mood of the poem is terse, with blunt storytelling that consistently shocks and captivates the reader.

Pygmalion's Bride not only showcases Carol Ann Duffy's poetic prowess and mastery of narrative devices but also offers a fresh perspective on a timeless myth. Through her exploration of the male-female dynamic, Duffy provokes introspection and challenges societal norms. This poem is a testament to the power of female voices and the importance of recognizing and celebrating their stories. With its rich language, evocative imagery, and profound themes, Pygmalion's Bride is a must-read for anyone seeking thought-provoking and engaging poetry that expands the boundaries of traditional narratives.

• Release Date: None
• Artist: Carol Ann Duffy