In Bliss Carman's poem, "A Waif," the speaker is a young woman who has been abandoned by her lover. She is alone and heartbroken, wandering the streets of a city in search of solace. She is desperate for someone to take her in and provide her with comfort and understanding. The poem is a plea for compassion and understanding, as the speaker is in a vulnerable state and in need of help. The poem ends with the speaker asking for a place to rest her head, a place to call home.
By Bliss Carman · First published 1891 · Genre: Poetry, Romanticism, Nature Writing