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Classic and Contemporary Poetry
A REMINISCENCE, by OLIVER MARBLE First Line: Twas long ago - but I remember Last Line: She left him too, sir — gad, she did! Subject(s): Love; Love - Nature Of; Women | |||
'T WAS long ago — but I remember — I met a maiden, quite by chance; A maid I judged as pretty, tender, And much inclined to cheap romance. And so I called, asked her politely, If she would to a German go, Expecting — for she knew me slightly, Or not at all — she'd answer no; But who knows thoughts in women hid? She consented — went, sir — gad, she did! A very little while thereafter A letter wrote I, all in jest, A note, conceived in boyish laughter — It surely's never marred my rest. I don't know why a lawyer fellow, All briefless then, and scant of means, Should try to raise a feeling mellow In silly school girl yet in teens. Ah, who knows thoughts in women hid? She corresponded — gad, she did! She answered me — I'd several dozens Or more of letters from her hand — I saw her four times at her cousin's, I met her once, as per demand. Her writing soon grew very eager; I humored her — what man would not? Her hints were anything but meagre, And so — I thought I had to pop; But who knows thoughts in women hid? She refused me flat, sir — gad, she did! It did not leave me broken-hearted; I'd held (and think I kissed) her hand — 'T was somewhat soiled — and, when we parted, We met again by her command. But at that meeting — you can't guess it, For but a week had intervened — She sat by me — must I confess it? She kissed me, she upon me leaned. Lord, who knows thoughts in women hid? She proposed to me, sir — gad, she did! And thereupon, like all before us, We had a frightful dose of spoons. Just when she thought our hearts in chorus, She went away for some two moons. That summer through, she, at the seashore, Had flirted, danced, raised merry Ned; But just when I was sure I'd see more In any other girl to wed — Do you know thoughts in women hid? She cut me dead, sir — gad, she did! . . . . . . . . I've heard from her, but not directly; Within the past three years or so. I'm sure't was told me quite correctly — She hadn't much good sense, you know. She'd nothing much but passion, money, A horrid temper — easy sketch. Her father sold her (thought it funny), An oldster took her'nd what she'd fetch. But who knows thoughts in women hid? She left him too, sir — gad, she did! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...ARISTOTLE TO PHYLLIS by JOHN HOLLANDER A WOMAN'S DELUSION by SUSAN HOWE JULIA TUTWILER STATE PRISON FOR WOMEN by ANDREW HUDGINS THE WOMEN ON CYTHAERON by ROBINSON JEFFERS TOMORROW by ANNA LETITIA BARBAULD LADIES FOR DINNER, SAIPAN by KENNETH KOCH GOODBYE TO TOLERANCE by DENISE LEVERTOV A HORRIBLE EXAMPLE by OLIVER MARBLE |
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