POETS Main Page INDEX of Poets INDEX of Titles & First Lines DOVE Menu

Dove

 
Rita Dove
b. 1952

"Rosa"
(1998)

 
How she sat there,
the time right inside a place
so wrong it was ready.

That trim name with
its dream of a bench
to rest on. Her sensible coat.

Doing nothing was the doing.
The clean flame of her gaze
carved by a camera flash.

How she stood up
when they bent down to retrieve
her purse. That courtesy.

© Rita Dove
Buy Rita Dove's poetry

Here's Rita Dove discussing this poem:

And a minute about Rosa and her act of defiance:

POETS Main Page INDEX of Poets INDEX of Titles & First Lines DOVE Menu