Here is the poem mentioned by Doria in KKT. Read the poem over and write a paragraph in which you analyze why this particular poem should mean so much to Doria. Be specific in your reasons; be specific in references to the poem. When you complete the assignment, post it to nicenet.org
1869 THE ORPHANS' NEW YEAR'S GIFTS by Arthur Rimbaud
The room is full of shadow; you vaguely hear
Two children whispering, sadly, softly.
Heavy with sleep, their heads are bowed
Beneath the long white curtain that trembles and rises . . .
—Outside, birds huddle against the cold;
Wings benumbed beneath the sky's gray shade;
And the New Year, trailing mist,
Drags the folds of her snowy train behind her,
Smiling through tears, shivering as she sings . . .
II
But beneath the fluttering curtain, the little ones
Speak as one does in the dark of night, softly.
Lost in thought, they listen as if to a distant murmur . . .
How they tremble at the clear golden voice
Of the morning bell, its metallic refrain striking
The glass globe again and again . . .
—Then . . . on the floor . . . strewn around their beds
In this frozen room, you notice mourning clothes:
The bitter winter wind wailing at the threshold
Blows its grim breath into the house.
You sense something missing in all of this . . .
—Where is their mother? Where is her triumphant
Maternal stare, her warm absolving smile?
One night, alone, bent over them
She must have forgotten to kindle a fire
From a dying ember, must have forgotten
To tuck blanket and quilt around them
Before leaving, while crying out: forgive me.
She couldn't have known how cold the next morning would be,
Nor how to keep the winter wind behind the door . . .
—This maternal dream is a warm blanket,
A cottony nest where children hide,
Like beautiful birds on swaying branches,
Sleeping a soft sleep brimming with white dreams . . .
—And here, the nest is featherless and cold,
And the little ones are cold, restless, afraid;
A nest frozen solid by bitter winds.
III
Your heart has understood: these are motherless children.
No mother near! —And father far away . . .
—So an old servant cares for them.
The little ones are all alone in this frozen house;
Four-year-old orphans who slowly
Awaken to a happy memory . . .
Like a rosary, a prayer made bead by bead:
—Oh what a beautiful morning! New Year's Morning!
During the night, each dreamt of his heart's loves,
Strange dreams of dancing toys
Gowned in gold, glittering jewels
Dancing a musical dance, disappearing
Under curtains and appearing again!
The next morning, they rose happily,
Mouths watering, rubbing their eyes . . .
With tousled hair and sparkling eyes
They made their way, brimming with holiday joy,
Little bare feet skimming across the floor,
Until softly tapping at their parents' door . . .
And in they went with nightshirted welcomes . . .
Endless kisses and every joy.