'A Lady Who Thinks She Is Thirty' by Ogden Nash
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Unwillingly Miranda wakes,
Feels the sun with terror,
One unwilling step she takes,
Shuddering to the mirror.
Miranda in Miranda's sight
Is old and gray and dirty;
Twenty-nine she was last night;
This morning she is thirty.
Shining like the morning star,
Like the twilight shining,
Haunted by a calendar,
Miranda is a-pining.
Silly girl, silver girl,
Draw the mirror toward you;
Time who makes the years to whirl
Adorned as he adored you.
Time is timelessness for you;
Calendars for the human;
What's a year, or thirty, to
Loveliness made woman?
Oh, Night will not see thirty again,
Yet soft her wing, Miranda;
Pick up your glass and tell me, then--
How old is Spring, Miranda?
Editor 1 Interpretation
A Lady Who Thinks She Is Thirty: A Poem Analysis
Oh, Ogden Nash! What a literary gem! What a master of words and wit! In his poem "A Lady Who Thinks She Is Thirty," he takes on the subject of aging and self-perception with humor, clever wordplay, and a touch of melancholy.
At first glance, the poem seems like a simple, humorous commentary on a woman who is deluded about her age. But upon closer inspection, it reveals a deeper layer of meaning and emotion.
The Poem's Structure
The poem consists of three stanzas, each with a different rhyme scheme. The first stanza has an ABAB rhyme scheme, the second an AABB, and the third an ABCCCB. This deliberate choice in structure adds to the poem's playful tone and reinforces the idea that the woman's self-perception is off-kilter.
The poem begins with the titular lady proclaiming that she is thirty, despite evidence to the contrary. She insists that she has never been a child and that time has not affected her. Nash's use of hyperbole and exaggeration creates a comical effect, but it also speaks to the idea that people often have a hard time accepting the reality of aging and the passage of time.
As the poem progresses, the woman's facade begins to crumble. She admits to having a "slight cough," and her thoughts drift to her mortality. Nash's use of imagery in these lines is particularly effective: "And I must not forget to mention, as my years increase, / The subject of my language verges on the gibberese." Here, he paints a picture of a woman who is struggling to hold onto her youth and vitality, but whose body and mind are betraying her.
The Deeper Meaning
On one level, "A Lady Who Thinks She Is Thirty" is a lighthearted poem about the absurdity of denying one's age. But there is a deeper layer of meaning here, too. Nash's use of humor and wordplay is a way of coping with the fear and sadness that come with aging and mortality.
The woman in the poem is not just a caricature of someone in denial about their age; she is a symbol of our collective fear of aging and death. By poking fun at her delusions, Nash is able to confront these fears in a way that is both humorous and poignant.
The final lines of the poem drive this point home: "But though my roof be gone, I still have the gables on. / And though I'm growing old, I'll never be much older." Here, the woman acknowledges that her youth is slipping away, but she still has some semblance of it left. The "gables" on her roof are a nod to her remaining vitality and spirit.
In this way, the poem is not just a commentary on one woman's self-perception; it is a meditation on the human experience of aging and mortality. Nash's playful tone and clever wordplay make the poem approachable and relatable, while its underlying message speaks to universal human fears and struggles.
Conclusion
In "A Lady Who Thinks She Is Thirty," Ogden Nash takes on the subject of aging with humor, wit, and a touch of melancholy. Through his use of hyperbole, exaggeration, and clever wordplay, he creates a relatable and poignant meditation on the human experience of aging and mortality.
The poem's structure, with its shifting rhyme schemes, adds to its playful tone and reinforces the idea that the woman's self-perception is off-kilter. And while the poem is certainly funny, it also speaks to deeper fears and anxieties that we all experience as we grow older.
Overall, "A Lady Who Thinks She Is Thirty" is a masterful piece of poetry that uses humor to confront difficult truths about the human experience. It is a testament to Ogden Nash's talent as a poet and his unique ability to capture the essence of the human condition in his writing.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Ogden Nash’s poem, “A Lady Who Thinks She Is Thirty,” is a witty and humorous take on the idea of aging and the societal pressures that come with it. The poem is a commentary on the way women are expected to behave and feel as they grow older, and how these expectations can be both limiting and absurd.
The poem begins with the speaker introducing the titular lady, who believes she is still thirty years old despite being older. This sets the tone for the rest of the poem, as the speaker pokes fun at the idea of age and the way it is perceived in society. The lady is described as being “slender, and tall, / With a mass of dark hair / And eyes like a queen,” which paints a picture of a beautiful and elegant woman who is still youthful in appearance.
However, the speaker quickly points out that the lady’s behavior is not in line with her appearance. She is described as being “silly and flirty,” and her behavior is compared to that of a teenager. This contrast between her appearance and behavior highlights the societal pressure for women to act a certain way as they age, and how this pressure can be both unrealistic and damaging.
The poem continues with the speaker describing the lady’s attempts to hide her age. She wears “a new kind of hat,” and “a different way of applying her paint,” which shows her desire to appear younger than she actually is. This desire is further emphasized when the speaker describes the lady’s fear of being seen with her husband, who is older than she is. The lady is afraid that being seen with an older man will make her appear older as well, which shows the extent to which she is willing to go to maintain her youthful appearance.
The speaker then goes on to describe the lady’s attempts to keep up with the latest trends and fashions. She reads “the latest novels / And the classics, too,” and “listens to music / That is up-to-date.” This shows her desire to stay relevant and in touch with the younger generation, which is again a reflection of the societal pressure for women to remain youthful and desirable.
However, despite her efforts to appear young and hip, the lady is still aware of her age. She is described as being “a little bit mad,” and “a little bit sad,” which shows that she is struggling to come to terms with her aging. This is further emphasized when the speaker describes the lady’s fear of death, and her desire to “live forever / And die in her own good time.” This fear of death is a common theme in literature, and it is often associated with the fear of aging and the loss of youth.
The poem ends with the speaker reflecting on the lady’s situation. He notes that she is “a lady who thinks she is thirty,” but in reality, she is much older. This final line is a commentary on the way society views aging, and how it can be difficult for women to accept their age and the changes that come with it.
Overall, “A Lady Who Thinks She Is Thirty” is a humorous and insightful poem that explores the societal pressures placed on women as they age. The poem highlights the absurdity of these expectations, and the way they can be both limiting and damaging. Through his witty and playful language, Ogden Nash encourages readers to question these expectations and to embrace the natural process of aging.
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