Ballade D'Une Grande Dame
The poem "Ballade D'Une Grande Dame" by G.K. Chesterton tells the story of a wealthy and powerful woman who has lived a life of luxury and excess. The speaker admires her for her strength and resilience, but also acknowledges that she is not without flaws. In the end, he concludes that despite her faults, she remains a fascinating figure worthy of admiration.
By G.K. Chesterton · First published 1908 · Genre: Poetry, Satire, Social Commentary · 281 words
First lines
Heaven shall forgive you Bridge at dawn, The clothes you wear -- or do not wear -- And Ladies' Leap-frog on the lawn And dyes and drugs, and _petits verres._ Your vicious things shall melt in air. . But for the Virtuous Things you do, The Righteous Work, the Public Care, It shall not be forgiven you.
Because you could not even yawn When your Committees would prepare To have the teeth of paupers drawn, Or strip the slums of Human Hair; Because a Doctor Otto Maehr Spoke of "a segregated few" -- And you sat smiling in your chair -- It shall not be forgiven you.
What this Textopian page supports
Ballade D'Une Grande Dame is listed on Textopian as a poem by G.K. Chesterton, dated 1908 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: G.K. Chesterton
- Date: 1908 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Satire, Social Commentary, Religious
- Length: 281 words
- Structure: 1 section, 6 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
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Genres
- Poetry — The work is structured in verse form, with rhyme and meter typical of poetry.
- Satire — The text employs irony and wit to critique societal norms and behaviors.
- Social Commentary — The themes address social issues and moral judgments, reflecting on public and private actions.
- Religious — The work references religious concepts such as forgiveness and moral judgment.
Tags
poetry · narrative · romance · mystery · historical · drama · adventure · philosophy · character study · society · love · loss