# Impromptu explained — Poetry

> Chapter companion for Poetry by James McIntyre.

## What happens

A brief poem in which the speaker comments on a young girl's scar from being struck by a stick of wood, praising the value of wood while condemning the rudeness of the accident that angered him.

## Themes in this chapter

### Moral Lessons and Domestic Virtue

The poem conveys a moral lesson about the rudeness of striking a fair maid, emphasizing domestic virtue and proper conduct.

## Key lines

> In its own place ’tis very good Always to have plenty of wood; But, striking fair maid, that is rude, And puts me in an angry mood.

Having a good supply of wood is fine in its proper context, but when it strikes a young woman, that is impolite and makes me angry.

_The speaker contrasts the usefulness of wood with the harm it caused, expressing indignation at the accident._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_12_se/chapters/impromptu
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_12_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_12_se/chapters