Girl by Maxwell Bodenheim (1920)
The work explores themes of femininity, societal expectations, and the tension between the body and the soul. It addresses the constraints imposed by societal norms and the superficial judgments of virtue and morality. The speaker urges the girl to embrace her desires and instincts, rejecting the dogmas that seek to define her worth. The narrative emphasizes the conflict between the physical and the spiritual, suggesting that traditional views of virtue can diminish one's essence. The speaker advocates for a life lived fully, encouraging the girl to indulge in her whims and experiences rather than conforming to societal pressures. The imagery used throughout the text highlights the struggle against the constraints of conventional morality, portraying a desire for liberation and authenticity. The speaker's voice is both assertive and intimate, creating a sense of urgency for the girl to recognize her own power and agency. Ultimately, the work serves as a call to embrace one's individuality and to reject the limitations imposed by external judgments, advocating for a life rich in experience and self-discovery.
By Maxwell Bodenheim · First published 1920 · Genre: Poetry, Lyrical, Modernist · 450 words
First lines
The words of men are not conjectures Lunging toward your soul: They do not wish you to leave The fawning thefts of flesh. When with covered formality They tramp from actual pulpits, They merely bring celestial nonsense For one, uncurious, sanctified bed. Ah, girl, the soul that they give you Is a clumsy, white Concert-master rebuking The first-violin of your body. Again they brand a word, Sacredness, upon your breast, Claiming that your soul is tied To the pliant riot of your limbs.
What this Textopian page supports
Girl is listed on Textopian as a poem by Maxwell Bodenheim, dated 1920 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: Maxwell Bodenheim
- Date: 1920 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Lyrical, Modernist, Philosophical, Romantic
- Length: 450 words
- Structure: 1 section, 3 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Girl by Maxwell Bodenheim
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering Girl?
- How does this poem by Maxwell Bodenheim fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Poetry first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- His Heatless Room by Edna St Vincent Millay
- Mujer by William Carlos Williams
- To Her Shadow by Oliver Herford
- Fugitive Thoughts by John Gould Fletcher
- Uneasy Reflections by Maxwell Bodenheim
- My Soul Is A Stiff Pageant by Fernando Pessoa
Genres
- Poetry — The work is written in verse, employing poetic devices and structure.
- Lyrical — The text expresses personal emotions and thoughts, characteristic of lyrical poetry.
- Modernist — The themes and style reflect modernist tendencies, focusing on individual experience and subjective reality.
- Philosophical — The poem engages with philosophical ideas about existence, virtue, and the human condition.
Tags
Poetry · Modernism · Symbolism · Free Verse · Stream-of-Consciousness · Autobiographical · Coming of Age · Self-Discovery · Identity Crisis · Existentialism · Philosophical · Psychological Insight