Elsa Wertman tells her story as a German immigrant girl working in Thomas Greene’s house. While his wife is away, he forces himself on her, and she becomes pregnant. Mrs. Greene, who is childless, says she will adopt the baby and keep things quiet—in return, she has been given a farm. Elsa hides the pregnancy, the child is born, and he grows up as Hamilton Greene. Years later, after marrying Gus Wertman, Elsa still carries the secret. At political rallies, people assume she is crying because she is moved by Hamilton Greene’s speeches, but she is really aching to say, “That’s my son.” The poem creates a mood of quiet sorrow and suppressed longing, as Elsa watches her child from a distance and grieves in a way no one around her understands.
Elsa Wertman — Summary
I was a peasant girl from Germany, Blue-eyed, rosy, happy and strong. And the first place I worked was at Thomas Greene’s. On a summer’s day when she was away He stole into the kitchen and took me Right in his arms and kissed me on my throat, I turning my head. Then neither of us Seemed to know what happened. And I cried for what would become of me. And cried and cried as my secret began to show. One day Mrs. Greene said she understood, And would make no trouble for me, And, being childless, would adopt it. (He had given her a farm to be still.) So she hid in the house and sent out rumors, As if it were going to happen to her. And all went well and the child was born— They were so kind to me. Later I married Gus Wertman, and years passed. But—at political rallies when sitters-by thought I was crying At the eloquence of Hamilton Greene— That was not it. No! I wanted to say: That’s my son! That’s my son.