Summary:
1-9 She told a man that they could caress but go no further.
10-21 After some trifles, the man erected and she was aroused.
22-31 The man entered her, but she sensed no excitement.
32-39 The man ejaculated, the same time she faked her orgasm. She left him.
In Winter in my Room 1
I came upon a Worm－
Pink, lank and warm－
But as he was a worm
And worms presume 5
Not quite with him at home－
Secured him by a string
To something neighboring
And went along.
A Trifle afterward 10
A thing occurred
I'd not believe it if I heard
But state with creeping blood－
A snake with mottles rare 14
Surveyed my chamber floor
In feature as the worm before
But ringed with power－
The very string with which 18
I tied him－too
When he was mean and new
That string was there－
I shrank－"How fair you are"! 22
Propitiation's claw－
"Afraid," he hissed
"Of me"?
"No cordiality"－26
He fathomed me－
Then to a Rhythm Slim
Secreted in his Form
As Patterns swim
Projected him.
That time I flew 32
Both eyes his way
Lest he pursue
Nor ever ceased to run
Till in a distant Town 36
Towns on from mine
I set me down
This was a dream.
I came upon a Worm－
Pink, lank and warm－
But as he was a worm
And worms presume 5
Not quite with him at home－
Secured him by a string
To something neighboring
And went along.
A Trifle afterward 10
A thing occurred
I'd not believe it if I heard
But state with creeping blood－
A snake with mottles rare 14
Surveyed my chamber floor
In feature as the worm before
But ringed with power－
The very string with which 18
I tied him－too
When he was mean and new
That string was there－
I shrank－"How fair you are"! 22
Propitiation's claw－
"Afraid," he hissed
"Of me"?
"No cordiality"－26
He fathomed me－
Then to a Rhythm Slim
Secreted in his Form
As Patterns swim
Projected him.
That time I flew 32
Both eyes his way
Lest he pursue
Nor ever ceased to run
Till in a distant Town 36
Towns on from mine
I set me down
This was a dream.
(F.1742/J.1670)
[1] my Room:: the scene location of this poem. Winter:: a hint on something cold for her, the result of the whole event.
[2] Worm:: a human being likened to a worm or reptile as an object of contempt, scorn, or pity (OED 10a).
[3] Pink:: a) exquisite; smart, 'swell' (OED 3); b) the most perfect condition or degree of something (2b). lank:: a) a lanky or lean person (OED B.n.2); b) flabby, hollow (OED 1); with loose muscles. warm:: a) ardent; b) prone to sexual desire; amorous (OED 13). Pink, lank and warm:: a smart, lean and passionate man; item b is used in line 16.
[4] worm:: a serpent, snake, dragon (OED 1).
[5] presume:: to intrude, venture.
[6] at home:: at ease, relaxed.
[7] Secured him by a string:: asked the man not to cross the line.
[8] something neighboring:: by doing something close and friendly.
[9] went along:: they started to caress.
[10] Trifle:: insignificant details of their caressing.
[11] A thing occurred:: the snake in line 14, that penis appeared.
[12] if I heard:: she would not believe this scene if others had told her, but she saw it now.
[13] creeping blood:: a hint on the slow increasing of blood into penis.
[14] snake:: various things resembling a snake in some respect (OED 4); alluding the penis. mottles rare:: few and separated (rare) veins on the penis.
[15] chamber:: an enclosed space in the body of an animal or plant (OED 8); alluding the pubic region. floor:: the base of any cavity.
[16] In feature as the worm before:: the "Pink, lank and warm" in line 3, item b.
[17] ringed with power:: the man embraced her with power.
[18] The very string:: the powerful string that tied him not to have sex, now tied him to her. Her restriction on caressing only attracted him more.
[19] I tied him too:: she tightly embraced him too.
[20] new:: morally or spiritually changed (OED 4d). he was mean and new:: he was vicious now with unusual behaviors, which was new to her.
[21] string:: a ligament, tendon, nerve; an elongated muscle or muscular fibre (OED 2a); the suspensory ligament of penis. That string was there:: that string she wished to secure him was now the string suspending his penis.
[22] I shrank:: she contracted (her vagina). "How fair you are":: said the man after she shrank her vagina.
[23] Propitiation's claw:: the seizing (claw) of vagina that appeased (propitiated) the penis.
[24-25] "Afraid," "Of me":: boasted the man.
[26] cordiality:: the state of invigorating the heart and stimulating the circulation (OED cordial B.n. 1), when considering sex as a beverage. "No cordiality":: "No excitement," she said.
[27] fathom:: to get to the bottom of, dive into, penetrate (OED 4b).
[28] Slim:: crafty, wily, artful (OED 3). Rhythm Slim:: repeated artful movements.
[29-30] Form, Patterns swim:: different patterns in the love-making.
[31] Projected him:: thrust his body at her; made him ejaculate.
[32] That time I flew:: she flew high with a fake orgasm that time he ejaculated.
[33] Both eyes his way:: stared at the man soberly, a hint on her fake orgasm.
[34] pursue:: to seek for more, to importune.
[35] Nor, ceased to run:: she started to hide herself.
[36] distant:: frigid, remote. Town:: the inhabitants of a town, the townspeople (OED 5).
[37] Towns on from mine:: further townspeople away from her own, her family members.
[38] set me down:: to settle herself; to set oneself down, to begin to devote oneself to (OED 143j). How to settle or what to devote is debatable.
[39] dream:: something wonderful but hard to reach. She tried to set herself down but that was nearly impossible like a dream.
The suspensory ligament of the penis consists of a triangular process of fibrous tissue, which is attached above, by a pointed portion, to the anterior and lower part of the symphysis pubis. ─ Demonstrations of Anatomy (1840)
