Violet Bent Backwards over the Grass (poem)

"Violet bent backwards over the grass" is a poem written by Lana Del Rey. The poem shares its name with the title of her first poetry book.

Background

The poem was first mentioned by Del Rey during an interview with Zane Lowe after the premiere of Venice Bitch. She mentioned that her poetry book was tentatively titled "Violet Bent Backwards Over the Grass" and that the name came from a line from one of her favourite poems. 

Del Rey read the poem during an Instagram live on September 4th 2019, shortly after the release of her sixth studio album, Norman Fucking Rockwell!

Poem

i went to a party

i came in hot

made decisions beforehand

my mind made up

things that would make me happy

to do them or not

each option weighed carefully

a plan for each thought

and then i walked through the door

past the open concept

and saw violet bent backwards over the grass

seven years old

with dandelions grasped tightly in her hand

arched like a bridge in a fallen handstand

grinning wildly like a madman

with the exuberance that only doing nothing can bring

waiting for the fireworks to begin

and in that moment i decided

to do nothing about everything

Cross-references

• "Doing nothing" is mentioned in The Greatest.