Professional Documents
Culture Documents
The Poem
What has happened to Lulu, mother?
What has happened to Lu?
There's nothing in her bed but an old rag-doll
And by its side a shoe.
Meaning of Lines
Stanza 1
The persona is questioning her mother about the mysterious and sudden
disappearance of Lulu. An old rag doll and a shoe was left behind.
Stanza 2
The persona saw that the windows are wide opened and the curtains are
"flapping free" in the wind. The persona also notice her money-box on the dusty shelf is
gone.
Stanza 3
The persona asks the mother why she is hiding her tears. The mother crumples
up a note (most probably from Lulu) and throws it into the fire. Mother then tells her child
that it is nothing at all. The persona does not believe her.
Stanza 4
The persona tells that she was awakened by "voices late last night" and heard
the sounds of an "engine roar", probably a car starting up and being driven away. The
mother lies that the child was only dreaming.
Stanza 5
The persona insists that she had heard someone cry "in anger or in pain". The
mother says it was just "a gust of rain".
Stanza 6
Puzzled about the mother's distraught behavior, the narrator wants to know why
the mother is pacing about, uncertain what to do. The use of "Lu" is an affectionate
shortened form of "Lulu".
Meaning of Lines
Stanza 1
The persona is questioning her mother about the mysterious and sudden
disappearance of Lulu. An old rag doll and a shoe was left
behind
Stanza 2
The persona saw that the windows are wide opened and the curtains are "flapping
free" in the wind. The persona also notice her money-box on the dusty shelf is gone.
Stanza 3
The persona asks the mother why she is hiding her tears. The mother crumples up
a note (most probably from Lulu) and throws it into the fire. Mother then tells her child that
it is nothing at all. The persona does not believe her.
Stanza 4
The persona tells that she was awakened by "voices late last night" and heard the
sounds of an "engine roar", probably a car starting up and being driven away. The mother
lies that the child was only dreaming.
Stanza 5
The persona insists that she had heard someone cry "in anger or in pain". The
Stanza 6
Puzzled about the mother's distraught behavior, the narrator wants to know why
the mother is pacing about, uncertain what to do. The use of "Lu" is an affectionate
shortened form of "Lulu