Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, DECEMBER AND MAY, by THOMAS HOOD


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

DECEMBER AND MAY, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Said nestor, to his pretty wife, quite sorrowful one day
Last Line: "I thank ye, sir, for telling me -- for now I'll grieve the more!"
Subject(s): Love - Age Differences; Marriage; Weddings; Husbands; Wives


I.

SAID Nestor, to his pretty wife, quite sorrowful one day,
"Why, dearest, will you shed in pearls those lovely eyes away?
You ought to be more fortified;" "Ah, brute, be quiet, do,
I know I'm not so fortyfied, nor fiftyfied as you!

II.

Oh, men are vile deceivers all, as I have ever heard,
You'd die for me you swore, and I -- I took you at your word.
I was a tradesman's widow then -- a pretty change I've made;
To live, and die the wife of one, a widower by trade!"

III.

"Come, come, my dear, these flighty airs declare, in sober truth,
You want as much in age, indeed, as I can want in youth;
Besides, you said you liked old men, though now at me you huff."
"Why, yes," she said, "and so I do -- but you're not old enough!"

IV

"Come, come, my dear, let's make it up, and have a quiet hive;
I'll be the best of men, -- I mean, -- I'll be the best alive!
Your grieving so will kill me, for it cuts me to the core." --
"I thank ye, Sir, for telling me -- for now I'll grieve the more!"





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