Great Regulars: [Amy] Levy died by inhaling

charcoal fumes. "Why stand ye so in silence?" Xantippe challenges her maids, "Throw it wide,/The casement, quick, why tarry?--give me air--O fling it wide I say, and give me light!" Of course, these lines are intended metaphorically, though, with hindsight, they prophesy their author's horrible death by asphyxia. It's immensely sad that Levy died before she could completely fulfill her extraordinary talents. "Philosophy" allows us at least to glimpse her best writerly and human qualities--her mischievous wit, realism and psychological insight--and the smile that was, perhaps, in real life, too rare.

Philosophy

from Carol Rumens: The Guardian: Poem of the week: Philosophy by Amy Levy

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