|
|
Classic and Contemporary Poetry
A LANCASHIRE LOVER (AT THE UNDERTAKER'S), by PERCY STICKNEY GRANT Poet's Biography First Line: Tis so sudden and strange to me Last Line: May she have the ring now? Subject(s): Love - Loss Of | |||
'Tis so sudden and strange To me. You are used to the dead, -- Used to see The closed eyes, to arrange The cold hands, the stiff head. You can't feel as I feel; For you Know the shrouds you will need The year through. You buy land, and a deal Of trade warrants the deed. A week since I saw her. The night Seems now distant as Noah. Ah, -- how bright Was the kitchen; like myrrh Smelled the fresh-washed pine floor. She talked, laughed, I was dumb, Until, Shamefaced, I showed the ring. O, I still See her lips as her thumb She slipped through the great thing. For you see I told clerk At store, 'Twas for me, was the ring. Now I swore It was big as a park, Said a smaller I'd bring. Then, next day, she fell sick, -- A maid With no home of her own, Though she prayed, Yet they sent her off quick To the work-house, alone. While I laughed o'er my loom, And felt, Now and then, for the ring 'Neath my belt, Wishing week-end would come, Little dreaming the sting. Planned the house we should have, We two; Carpet, table, chairs, stove, What we'd do: -- She lay dying, the grave Was a-beckoning my love. Aye, she died more of shame? 'Tis like. I'll complete here my vow. I could strike: -- But 'tis useless to blame! May she have the ring now? | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...ROSE AND MURRAY by CONRAD AIKEN THOUGH WE NO LONGER POSSESS IT by MARK JARMAN THE GLORY OF THE DAY WAS IN HER FACE by JAMES WELDON JOHNSON LOVE COME AND GONE by GEORGIA DOUGLAS JOHNSON CHAMBER MUSIC: 28 by JAMES JOYCE CHAMBER MUSIC: 33 by JAMES JOYCE A SCOTCH SONG by JOANNA BAILLIE A CALL TO PRAYER by PERCY STICKNEY GRANT |
| |