Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE QUARREL, by                    
First Line: Yesterday we quarreled
Last Line: Compared with today.
Subject(s): Quarrels; Arguments; Disagreements


Yesterday we quarreled;
You gave me back my love
And I accepted with a smile.
I wasn't your type,
I wasn't gay enough --
And a number of other reasons.

I knew you were right.
So I cleaned out my heart,
I swept and dusted and garnished
Until all was spick and span -- and empty --
And I was glad and relieved,
Or I thought I was.

And I gave you back your love,
I didn't want it, either.
There was too much pain in our happiness.
My heart was breaking, breaking,
Your life was so different
I couldn't make you see it my way.

Too many obstacles,
Too many barriers
That we didn't know how to get over.
You wanted your freedom
And you were glad and relieved --
Or you thought you were.

But there was soft and lovely music,
Tender words, coming from afar;
We turned and looked into each other's eyes.
Then I knew -- the room in my heart
I had thought so empty
Was again inhabited by you
And you almost burst its walls
With the reinforcements you brought along.

My heart was no citadel;
You needn't have stormed it --
I cared so much before --
But that was all nothing,
Compared with today.





Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!


Other Poems of Interest...
Home: PoetryExplorer.net