Tinker Jack and the Tidy Wives

"Strumpet Song"

Tinker Jack and the Tidy Wives written by Sylvia Plath

"Faun"

Poem composed in 1956; included as entry 16 in The Collected Poems, edited by Ted Hughes

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Tinker Jack and the Tidy Wives 'Come lady, bring that pot Gone black of polish And whatever pan this mending master Should trim back to shape. I'll correct each mar On silver dish, And shine that kettle of copper At your fireside Bright as blood. 'Come lady, bring that face Fallen from luster. Time's soot in bleared eye Can be made to glister For small charge. No form's gone so awry, Crook-back or bandy-leg, But Tinker Jack can forge Beauty from hag. 'Whatever scath Fierce fire's wrought Jack will touch up And fit for use. What scar's been knocked Into cracked heart Jack shall repair. 'And if there be Young wives still blithe, Still fair, Whose labor's not yet smoked Their fine skin sere, From their white heat Before he part Let Jack catch fire.' 1956

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