To a Poor Old Woman
free verse
gentle
Munching a plum on the street a paper bag of them in her hand They taste good to her They taste good to her. They taste good to her You can see it by the way she gives herself to the one half sucked out in her hand Comforted a solace of ripe plums seeming to fill the air They taste good to her
To a Poor Old Woman - meaning Summary
Simple Pleasure and Dignity
The poem observes an elderly woman eating plums on the street and finds in that small act a concentrated, humane image of comfort. Through spare description and repetition, the speaker notes how the fruit pleases her and seems to create a private solace that fills the air. The poem turns a mundane moment into a quiet affirmation of simple pleasure and the dignity of ordinary needs experienced in public space.
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