I knew a woman

I knew a woman.

Upon my first read all I could think about was Disney princesses.
Then the next thought that came into my mind was from the movie Enchanted.

Giselle: Oh it’s you!

Prince: Yes, it is me. And you are?

Giselle: Giselle

Prince: Oh, Giselle! We shall be married in the morning!

(All of this happening just seconds after meeting.)

The reason my mind wandered to these ideas? Although I am sure the idea of the poem was not based upon my Disney theme. While the woman was being described made her sound very elegant, and when you read the very first line:

“I knew a woman, lovely in her bones,

When small birds sighed, she would sigh back at them;” (1084)

This reminded me of Snow White had this “special” bond with the animals and she could sing a little tune and they would all come crawling out of nooks and crannies to help her clean a very messy house.

Following my outrageous ideas, I began to think of it as a personal idea of a woman. And her movements, the way they were described reminded me of dancing. Like her body in every action that she conducted was in tune with a personal rhythm.

The line “But who can count eternity in days?

These old bones live to learn her wanton ways:

(I measure time by how a body sways).” (1085)

Is this perhaps talking about that one’s age doesn’t really exist as long as the body is lively and full of life?

Am I totally missing the point? Probably.

“She was the sickle; I ,poor ,I, the rake,

Coming behind her for her pretty sake

(But what prodigious mowing we did make).” (1084)

Is the speaker of this poem possibly comparing itself to a rake? Is the rake even an actual rake in this poem?