I saw a girl one summer day. (Oh Love, how beautiful her shining face!) Across the counter hers the task to lay A bolt of velvet, silk, a bit of lace. The cause of all her joy? A narrow ring. I watched. My heart grew light and happy, too! Her pulsing, gallant spirit seemed to fling A challenge, build my waning faith anew. Three years... again I searched the market-place. (Oh Love, how pitiful the needless waste!) A man with infant child patroled the lace; The girl once happy worked with fever haste; Her soul and body wrecked by cruel greed While over her a lash; "Three mouths to feed." | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...ASPIRATIONS OF A COUNTRY LAD by GEORGE SANTAYANA THE CHARACTER OF A GOOD PARSON by GEOFFREY CHAUCER THE TASK: BOOK 4. THE WINTER EVENING by WILLIAM COWPER THE QUESTION by WILFRID WILSON GIBSON THE SHEPHERDESS by ALICE MEYNELL MORAL ESSAYS: EPISTLE 4. TO RICHARD BOYLE, EARL BURLINGTON by ALEXANDER POPE |