A Pin by Ella Wheeler Wilcox (1889)
The poem explores the theme of a woman's sacrifice for her lover. The speaker gives up her hairpin to repair a broken wheel, allowing her lover to escape a storm and potential death. This act symbolizes the sacrifices women make for their loved ones, often going unnoticed and unappreciated.
By Ella Wheeler Wilcox · First published 1889 · Genre: Poetry, Satire, Character Study · 524 words
First lines
Oh! I know a certain woman who is reckoned with the good, / But she fills me with more terror than a raging lion could. / The little chills run up and down my spine whene'er we meet, / Though she seems a gentle creature and she's very trim and neat.
And she has a thousand virtues and not one acknowledged sin, / But she is the sort of person you could liken to a pin. / And she pricks you, and she sticks you, in a way that can't be said -- / When you seek for what has hurt you, why, you cannot find the head.
What this Textopian page supports
A Pin is listed on Textopian as a poem by Ella Wheeler Wilcox, dated 1889 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: Ella Wheeler Wilcox
- Date: 1889 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Satire, Character Study, Social Commentary
- Length: 524 words
- Structure: 1 section, 8 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
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- Work identity for A Pin by Ella Wheeler Wilcox
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Similar titles
- Wanted A Little Girl by Ella Wheeler Wilcox
- Dedication by John Greenleaf Whittier
- To Lesley by James Whitcomb Riley
- For You by James Whitcomb Riley
- Her Beautiful Eyes by James Whitcomb Riley
- Mockery by Ella Wheeler Wilcox
Genres
- Poetry — The text is written in verse form with a rhythmic and rhyming structure.
- Satire — The poem uses humor and irony to critique and mock a certain type of person.
- Character Study — The poem focuses on the detailed description and analysis of a specific individual's traits and behaviors.
- Social Commentary — The poem reflects on social interactions and the impact of seemingly virtuous individuals on others.
Tags
Poetry · American Literature · 19th Century · Romanticism · Love Poem · Short Poem · Simple Language · Accessible · Emotional · Intimate · Personal · Reflective