Poet and novelist Elinor Wylie was extravagant, if not notorious in her lifetime. Raised a debutante, she rebelled against society’s conventions of the turn of the century, often raising more than a few eyebrows due to her multiple marriages and affairs. Wylie was well known for her beauty but suffered from dangerously high blood pressure throughout her adult life, which caused blinding migraines and would eventually end her life.
While visiting her ex-husband William Benet in New York in 1928, she picked up a volume of John Donne’s poems and asked Benet for a glass of water; when he returned with it, she walked over to him and said quietly, “Is that all it is?” and fell to the floor, having died of a stroke.
One of her most anthologized poems, “Velvet Shoes,” takes the reader on a muted journey through snow.
Velvet Shoes
Let us walk in the white snow
In a soundless space;
With footsteps quiet and slow,
At a tranquil pace,
Under veils of white lace.
I shall go shod in silk,
And you in wool,
White as white cow’s milk,
More beautiful
Than the breast of a gull.
We shall walk through the still town
In a windless peace;
We shall step upon white down,
Upon silver fleece,
Upon softer than these.
We shall walk in velvet shoes:
Wherever we go
Silence will fall like dews
On white silence below.
We shall walk in the snow.
—by Elinor Wylie
Try It: Quiet as Velvet Poetry
Think of the softness of velvet and the hushed sound it makes on the fingertips. Write a quiet and gentle poem using velvet as one part of the poetic whole. Consider writing your poem in answer to the question, “Is that all it is?”
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Featured Poem
Here’s a recent poem from L.L. we enjoyed:
If you would agree
to be kind,
I would lay myself
down,
a bridge
between now
and what’s never,
yet, been dreamed.
—by L.L. Barkat
Photo by thephotographymuse. Creative Commons via Flickr.
Browse more satin & velvet
Browse more writing prompts
Browse poetry teaching resources
How to Write a Poem uses images like the buzz, the switch, the wave—from the Billy Collins poem “Introduction to Poetry”—to guide writers into new ways of writing poems. Excellent teaching tool. Anthology and prompts included.
“How to Write a Poem is a classroom must-have.”
—Callie Feyen, English Teacher, Maryland
- Poetry Prompt: Misunderstood Lion - March 19, 2018
- Animate: Lions & Lambs Poetry Prompt - March 12, 2018
- Poetry Prompt: Behind the Velvet Rope - February 26, 2018
Laura Lynn Brown says
Hand-me-down Jacket
Hand-me down jacket
cinnamon brown
embroidered placket
all the way down
thin pearly buttons
crushed velvet skin
makes me feel
like a mandolin
Donna Falcone says
I love the way this ending surprised me! A mandolin! What song would a cinnamon mandolin play? Maybe something spicy? 🙂
Donna Falcone says
L.L. I’m so glad to see this one from you again. Love it. 🙂
Shannon Mayhew says
In the Glow
By the night-light glow
I see you holding the hem
Of the pink velvet dress
Worn by your lovey-doll
I watch, quiet,
as you slide the velvet
Along your rosebud mouth
And your apricot chin
The way you do
When sleep tugs
at your faded daisy pajama shirt
And your sparkle-eyes grow soft
Your breath hushes
like a bamboo rustle
The deeper, sleeping breath
My own breath slows
The velvet just resting now
Between your finger and thumb
I imagine you bring this softness
Into your dreams
I could quietly slide from your bed
But instead I stay
In the glow
and listen
This is all it is
This is everything
Debbie says
Love this!
Shannon Mayhew says
Thank you, Debbie!
Donna Falcone says
Oh… this has so many sweet images to enjoy…. I especially love the love… and apricot chin, and the sleep tugging on a faded daisy pajama shirt…. and staying in the glow. Such sweet peace. Thank you. 🙂
Shannon Mayhew says
Thank you, Donna! These images are from years that passed all too quickly, even as I tried to savor the slow moments. I’m happy that I could share them here and that you found some peace in the glow! 🙂
Katie says
tucking
you into bed
smoothing your soothing fleece
velvet down over your shoulder
sweet dreams
smiling
up at me your eyes are sparkling
you’re so very grateful
that small measure
of love
Donna says
Now, I want a velvet nap to dream about my little ones when they were little ones.
🙂 Thank you for taking me there.
Katie says
Hi Donna:)
Thankful this sparked fond memories for you.
I thought it might bring back some, which is wonderful.
Actually, I just returned from caring for my 92 year old mom, who is recovering from flu and pneumonia. One night when I helped her into bed, she beamed up at me and said “You’re so good to me.” and I thought, “Well, I had a great role model.” 🙂
Gratefully,
Katie
Donna says
Wale is felt, not seen
Nearly imperceptible-
Crushed velvet heartbeat.
Katie says
Such a beautiful haiku!
Donna says
Thank you
Katie says
soft to touch textures
luxurious tactile treat
satin and velvet
Shannon Mayhew says
Love the alliteration! I can just feel the soft treat of these textures. Thanks for sharing this, Katie!
Katie says
Thank you, Shannon:)
I enjoyed “In the Glow.”
Shannon says
Thanks, Katie! 🙂