The Lady and the Dame by Ella Wheeler Wilcox
The poem explores the contrast between two women: a lady and a dame. The lady is portrayed as beautiful, elegant, and refined, with a gentle touch and a loving heart. In contrast, the dame is depicted as coarse, rough, and unrefined, with a harsh voice and a bitter spirit.
By Ella Wheeler Wilcox · First published 1913 · Genre: Poetry, Philosophical, Fantasy · 477 words
First lines
So thou hast the art, good dame, thou swearest, / To keep Time's perishing touch at bay / From the roseate splendour of the cheek so tender, / And the silver threads from the gold away; / And the tell-tale years that have hurried by us / Shall tiptoe back, and, with kind good-will, / They shall take their traces from off our faces, / If we will trust to thy magic skill.
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Genres
- Poetry — The text is structured in verse, with a focus on rhythm, meter, and rhyme.
- Philosophical — The themes explore deep questions about time, youth, and the nature of happiness.
- Fantasy — The narrative involves magical elements, such as potions and the reversal of time's effects.
- Romantic — There is a focus on beauty, youth, and emotional longing.
Tags
Romance · Poetry · Classic · Literary Fiction · American Literature · 19th Century · Women Authors · Love Story · Social Class · Marriage · Infidelity · Adultery
What this Textopian page supports
The Lady and the Dame is listed on Textopian as a poem by Ella Wheeler Wilcox, dated 1913 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: 1913 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Philosophical, Fantasy, Romantic, Reflective
- Length: 477 words
- Structure: 1 section, 5 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
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- Work identity for The Lady and the Dame by Ella Wheeler Wilcox
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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