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Classic and Contemporary Poetry
MAN'S DEVOTION, by JAMES WHITCOMB RILEY Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: A lover said, o maiden, love me well Last Line: He was a widower. Alternate Author Name(s): Johnson Of Boone, Benj. F. Subject(s): Kisses; Love; Widows & Widowers | |||
A lover said, "O Maiden, love me well, For I must go away: And should another ever come to tell Of love -- What WILL you say?" And she let fall a royal robe of hair That folded on his arm And made a golden pillow for her there; Her face -- as bright a charm As ever setting held in kingly crown -- Made answer with a look, And reading it, the lover bended down, And, trusting, "kissed the book." He took a fond farewell and went away. And slow the time went by -- So weary -- dreary was it, day by day To love, and wait, and sigh. She kissed his pictured face sometimes, and said: "O Lips, so cold and dumb, I would that you would tell me, if not dead, Why, why do you not come?" The picture, smiling, stared her in the face Unmoved -- e'en with the touch Of tear-drops -- hers -- bejeweling the case -- 'Twas plain -- she loved him much. And, thus she grew to think of him as gay And joyous all the while, And SHE was sorrowing -- "Ah, welladay!" But pictures always smile! And years -- dull years -- in dull monotony As ever went and came, Still weaving changes on unceasingly, And changing, changed her name. Was she untrue? -- She oftentimes was glad And happy as a wife; But one remembrance oftentimes made sad Her matrimonial life. -- Though its few years were hardly noted, when Again her path was strown With thorns -- the roses swept away again, And she again alone! And then -- alas! ah then! -- her lover came: "I come to claim you now -- My Darling, for I know you are the same, And I have kept my vow Through these long, long, long years, and now no more Shall we asundered be!" She staggered back and, sinking to the floor, Cried in her agony: "I have been false!" she moaned, "I am not true -- I am not worthy now, Nor ever can I be a wife to YOU -- For I have broke my vow!" And as she kneeled there, sobbing at his feet, He calmly spoke -- no sign Betrayed his inward agony -- "I count you meet To be a wife of mine!" And raised her up forgiven, though untrue; As fond he gazed on her, She sighed, -- "so happy!" And she never knew He was a widower. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...A WIDOW SPEAKS TO THE AURORA'S OF A DECEMBER NIGHT by NORMAN DUBIE NEW AGE AT AIRPORT MESA by NORMAN DUBIE POPHAM OF THE NEW SONG: 5; FOR R.P. BLACKMUR by NORMAN DUBIE THE WIDOW OF THE BEAST OF INGOLSTADT by NORMAN DUBIE DOMESDAY BOOK: WIDOW FORTELKA by EDGAR LEE MASTERS WIDOW IN A STONE HOUSE by ALICIA SUSKIN OSTRIKER GETTING TO KNOW YOU by RUTH STONE A BOY'S MOTHER by JAMES WHITCOMB RILEY |
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