Classic and Contemporary Poetry
DOVECOTT MILL: 7. YOUTH AND MAIDEN, by PHOEBE CARY Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: A half score years have sped away Last Line: And the gardener and bethy live alone. Subject(s): Growth | ||||||||
A half score years have sped away Since Robert and Bethy used to play About the yard and the mill, all day. For time must go, whatever we do; And the boy as it went, to manhood grew, Steady and honest, good and true. Going on with the mill, when his father died; He lived untempted there, untried, Knowing little of life beside. Striving not to be rich or great, Never questioning fortune or fate, Contented slowly to earn, and wait. Doing the work that was near his hand, Still of Bethy he thought and planned, To him the flower of all the land. And tall shy Bethy more quiet seems, With a tenderer light her soft eye beams, And her thoughts are vague as the dream of dreams. Oft she sings in an undertone Of fears and sorrows not her own, -- The pains that love-lorn maids have known. Does she think as she breathes the tender sigh, Of the lover that's coming, by and by? If she will not tell you, how should I? And when she walks in the evening bland Over the rich Squire's pleasant land, Does she long to be a lady, grand, And to have her fingers, soft and white, Lie in her lap, with jewels bright, And with never a task from morn till night? Often, walking about the place, With bended head and thoughtful face, She meets the owner face to face. Sometimes he eyes her wistfully, As blushing with rustic modesty, She drops him a pretty courtesy, And looks as if inclined to say Some friendly word to bid her stay, Then, silent, turns abrupt away. And though to speak she never dares, She is sad to think that no one cares For the lonely man, with thin gray hairs. The good-wife, just as the girl was grown, Went from the places she had known, And the gardener and Bethy live alone. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...GRATITUDE TO OLD TEACHERS by ROBERT BLY WHEN I WAS TWENTY-SIX by ROBERT BLY SECOND BOOK OF ODES: 3. BIRTHDAY GREETING by BASIL BUNTING CHILDHOOD by LORNA DEE CERVANTES WALKING AWAY by CECIL DAY LEWIS WHAT IS SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN by NAOMI SHIHAB NYE A LEGEND OF THE NORTHLAND by PHOEBE CARY |
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