Saturday, June 28, 2014

In the poem "Faces" by Sara Teasdale, what is the meaning of "the city's broken roar"?

In Sara Teasdale’s poem “Faces” she uses the words “the city’s broken roar” to describe the background noise or din of a city. These words describe the sounds of a city, suggesting the noise is loud but not constant; it is chaotic and broken.



PEOPLE that I meet and pass


In the city's broken roar,


Faces that I lose so soon


And have never found before...



The narrator is describing the setting in which she sees strangers passing by on the noisy city streets. When their eyes meet, she feels like she is invading their privacy by seeing past their happy facades. As the city moves around her, she sees through other people’s eyes into their hearts and emotions. Their secrets and sorrows are revealed even though they try to hide their true feelings. The streets of the city are a metaphorical masquerade party. In the end, she questions if others can see the same in her eyes.

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