"Only a housemaid!" She looked from the kitchen,—
Neat was the kitchen and tidy was she;
There at her window a sempstress sat stitching;
"Were I a sempstress, how happy I'd be!"
"Only a Queen!" She looked over the waters,—
Fair was her kingdom and mighty was she;
There sat an Empress, with Queens for her daughters;
"Were I an Empress, how happy I'd be!"
Still the old frailty they all of them trip in!
Eve in her daughters is ever the same;
Give her all Eden, she sighs for a pippin;
Give her an Empire, she pines for a name!
I am busy working to bring Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.'s "Unsatisfied" to life through some unique musical arrangements and will have a full analysis of the poem here for you later.
In the meantime, I invite you to explore the poem's themes, structure, and meaning. You can also check out the gallery for other musical arrangements or learn more about Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.'s life and contributions to literature.
Check back soon to experience how "Unsatisfied" transforms when verse meets melody—a unique journey that makes poetry accessible, engaging, and profoundly moving in new ways.