"You" by D. H. Lawrence

[KneesNip]

Hey all,

I've been reading a bit of Lawrence recently (well, the little that is included in the Norton Anthology of Modern Poetry) and I just can't work out this poem. I was wondering if any one has ideas about context or anything at all that might shed light on this?

Here's the poem:

"You

You, you don't know me.
When have your knees ever nipped me
like fire-tongs a live coal
for a minute?"

Thanks all,

--Brian

[Virgil]

"You

You, you don't know me.
When have your knees ever nipped me
like fire-tongs a live coal
for a minute?"

Thanks all,


Well, there's not much there to really get. I can only guess something sexual based on the suggestiveness of that similie. Sorry I can't help.

[Janine]

I know a lot of Lawrence poems, but didn't recall one quite this short, KneesNip...:lol: how funny, you got your user name from the poem. I just wonder if this is a shortened form of one of his longer poems. I will try looking it up in my anthology of his complete poems; and get back to you later.

Welcome to the forum, KneesNip and you might consider joining in with our D.H.Lawrence Short Story thread. We normally discuss one every two months. Currently, we are on break, but maybe soon we can start a new one.

[mystery_spell]

This definitely has some sort of sexual connotation, I agree. I think there's not much to this poem and that, though simple, it has a quiet power.