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Patience by D. H. Lawrence

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A speaker observes a chaotic scene — the wind sends birds flying, and a train rumbles in from the north — yet his focus is solely on one thing: waiting for news that the woman he loves has been freed from her struggles.

Poet
D. H. Lawrence
Core theme
Loneliness
The PoemFull text

Patience

D. H. Lawrence

A WIND comes from the north Blowing little flocks of birds Like spray across the town, And a train, roaring forth, Rushes stampeding down With cries and flying curds Of steam, out of the darkening north. Whither I turn and set Like a needle steadfastly, Waiting ever to get The news that she is free; But ever fixed, as yet, To the lode of her agony.

Public domain

Sourced from Project Gutenberg

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§01Quick summary

What this poem is about

A speaker observes a chaotic scene — the wind sends birds flying, and a train rumbles in from the north — yet his focus is solely on one thing: waiting for news that the woman he loves has been freed from her struggles. He likens himself to a compass needle, always directed toward her pain, unaffected by the movement and life swirling around him.

§02Themes

Recurring themes

§03Line by line

Stanza by stanza, with notes

  1. A WIND comes from the north / Blowing little flocks of birds

    Editor's note

    The poem begins with a vibrant display of nature's energy. Birds dart across the sky like sea spray—small, vulnerable creatures swept along by a force greater than them. Right from the start, the north becomes the focal point, as the speaker's gaze consistently drifts back to it, creating a compass metaphor that ties the poem together at the end. The imagery is striking and almost chaotic, brimming with sound and movement.

  2. Whither I turn and set / Like a needle steadfastly,

    Editor's note

    The second stanza takes a sudden turn inward. All the outside noise fades away, and we find ourselves in the speaker's mind. He likens himself to a compass needle, constantly swinging back to the same fixed point regardless of the circumstances. That point is the woman’s suffering, referred to as "the lode of her agony." The term "lode" comes from mining, describing a vein of ore that attracts a magnet; in this case, it also represents the magnetic draw of her pain. He is waiting for her to find freedom—freedom from illness, a toxic relationship, or some unspecified distress—but she hasn’t achieved that yet, which keeps him from moving on as well.

§04Tone & mood

How this poem feels

The tone shifts between two registers. The first stanza feels restless and exhilarating, filled with images of wind, stampeding trains, and flying steam. In contrast, the second stanza is calm and tightly controlled, almost resigned. Together, they create a tension that serves as the emotional heart of the poem: the world is in furious motion, while the speaker remains fixed, waiting. Beneath that stillness lies tenderness and a quiet ache that never slips into self-pity.

§05Symbols & metaphors

Symbols & metaphors

The compass needle
The central image of the poem: a compass needle always points toward magnetic north, no matter where you take it. Lawrence uses this to illustrate that the speaker's attention and loyalty are beyond choice — they're a physical necessity. He *cannot* help but orient himself toward her.
The north wind and the train from the north
Both come from the same direction that the speaker continues to face. The north is where she is, or where her suffering begins. The wind and train are wild, unstoppable forces—reflecting the emotional pull the speaker feels, while also serving as reminders that the world keeps moving even as he stands still.
The lode
A lode refers to a mineral vein in rock that has magnetic properties. Lawrence uses this term from geology to express her suffering as if it possesses a tangible magnetic force. Her pain isn't merely an emotional burden; it physically anchors him in place.
Birds blown like spray
The birds are small and scattered, tossed around by the wind. They mirror the speaker's own state: he's also at the mercy of a force he didn't select and can't fight against, even though he seems calm on the outside instead of scattered.

§06Form & structure

Form & structure

Meter
free verse
Rhyme
ABCACB A ABABAB

§07Historical context

Historical context

Lawrence penned this poem during a tumultuous time in his life, particularly regarding his relationship with Frieda Weekley, the woman he would later marry. When they first crossed paths in 1912, Frieda was still tied to another man and had three children. Lawrence endured a painful wait as she navigated her separation and custody issues. Many poems he wrote during this time express themes of longing, waiting, and the heartache of loving someone who isn't yet available. "Patience" captures these emotions perfectly. Additionally, Lawrence was profoundly influenced by the natural world of the English Midlands, where he grew up. His tendency to root intense personal feelings in vivid physical details — like a train, a flock of birds, or a gust of wind — is one of his most distinct poetic hallmarks.

§08FAQ

Questions readers ask

Who is the 'she' the speaker is waiting for?

Lawrence doesn't mention her by name, but it's widely believed the poem refers to Frieda Weekley, the married woman he fell in love with in 1912. He patiently waited as she endured the difficult process of leaving her husband and losing custody of her children. The line "waiting ever to get / The news that she is free" clearly reflects that real-life scenario.

What does 'the lode of her agony' mean?

A lode is a vein of magnetic ore in rock — the kind that pulls a compass needle toward it. Lawrence suggests that her suffering exerts a similar magnetic pull on him. He isn’t just emotionally tied to her pain; he is attracted to it like a needle is attracted to magnetic north. He finds it impossible to look away or move on as long as she continues to suffer.

Why does the poem start with a train and birds if it's really about waiting for a woman?

Lawrence uses the external scene to create a contrast. In the first stanza, everything is in violent, noisy motion — the wind, birds, and a stampeding train. Then, in the second stanza, we see the speaker is completely still amid all that chaos, like a compass needle. This contrast amplifies his stillness, making it feel even more intense.

What is the poem's structure and does it matter?

The poem consists of two stanzas that differ in length — the first has seven lines and the second has six — and follows a loose rhyme scheme (ABABACB / ABABAB). The first stanza feels broad and expansive, while the second is more compressed and introspective. This change in structure reflects the poem's emotional journey, moving from the vastness of the world to a single, fixed point within the speaker's chest.

What does 'whither I turn and set' mean?

"Whither" in this context means "to which point" or "toward which." "Set" refers to how a compass needle aligns itself. Thus, the line conveys: "toward which I always turn and lock in place." This old-fashioned phrasing emphasizes the mechanical and involuntary nature of his attention—he doesn't consciously choose to face her direction; it just happens.

Is this poem about romantic love or something else, like grief?

It comes across as romantic love — particularly the heart-wrenching experience of caring for someone stuck in a painful situation you can't change. However, the themes of suffering, being stuck, and waiting also connect deeply with grief or any form of helpless watchfulness. Lawrence leaves the details vague enough that the emotion extends beyond the specific personal context.

How does this poem compare to Lawrence's better-known work?

Lawrence is better known for his novels like Sons and Lovers and Women in Love, but his poetry carries the same traits: vivid physical imagery, deep emotional honesty, and an unflinching approach to pain. "Patience" may be a subtler piece compared to some of his more fervent work, yet the compass needle metaphor stands out as a sharp and surprising image that exemplifies what makes his writing memorable.

Citation

Cite this poem

MLA

Lawrence, D. H. "Patience." Storgy, https://storgy.com/poems/patience-d-h-lawrence/.

APA

Lawrence, D. H. (n.d.). Patience. Storgy. https://storgy.com/poems/patience-d-h-lawrence/

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