Lyric Poem: A brief subjective poem marked by imagination, melody, and emotion, but strict definition is impossible.

Symbolism of the Mirror: In this poem, a symbol of self-attraction. We assume, as readers, that the narrator of this poem is male, and is speaking to his female equal. He is using the mirror to make a point: She cares only for herself and her reflection. Mirrors reflect our image. We care about how we look and mirrors help us to see ourselves.

QUESTION: How many times a day do you look in the mirror?

IDEAS:

In line 6, the poet asks for the woman to approach the "supreme authority direct." This is again referring to the woman and her self-centered personality. She cares for no one else, and therefore she is the final authority. She does not listen because she does not care- unless, of course, you are talking about her.

QUESTION: How many people do you know like the person portrayed in this poem?

The narrator is positive in the last stanza, that the woman would have broken the mirror over his head, had she not caught sight of herself in the mirror.

QUESTION: Is this person naturally violent?

About the Author:
D.H. Lawrence
Birth: Eastwood, Nottinghamshire, England, September 11, 1885.

Facts:
- Better knows as a novelist, first published works (1909) were poems.
- Poems reflect the influence of Ezra Pound and Imagist movement.
- Believed in writing poetry that was stark, immediate, true to the inner force
- Best loved poems relate to plants and animals
- Many other poems were satiric and show his outrage at Puritanism and conventional Anglo-Saxon society.
- First novel: The White Peacock published in 1911. It's success was overshadowed by the death of his mother from cancer.
- Most famous novel: Lady Chatterley's Lover.
- In 1908 he became a teacher.- Dedicated to his poor schoolboys.
- 1911- Came down with pneumonia. - Damaged lungs. Doctor told him to quit teaching, so he did.
- 1911- Eloped with Freida Weekley- German wife of a professor. They traveled across Europe and were finally married in 1914 after Freida's divorce.
- During WWI, lived with Freida in poverty in England.
- After the war, Lawrence left England for Italy.

Death: March 2, 1930 in Vence, France from turberculosis.

Connection with Poem:

D.H. Lawrence wrote about his many radical views regarding sex, and the sexes. Intimates is about a woman and her self-centered views.

QUESTION: Was Lawrence's only love, Frieda, the woman described in the poem? Does Lawrence view all women as self centered?



The Academy of American Poets

D.H. Lawrence Index Page

The Poetry Grove-D.H. Lawrence

"Intimates" Test

(A Presentation by Vanessa Fields, Melanie Burchfield, and Blair Thompson)