"YOU'LL have a son," the old man said -- "And then a daughter fair to meet As any summer nights that dance Upon a thousand silver feet." "You dear old man, now can you tell If my fair daughter'll marry well?" The old man winked his eye and said, "Well, knowing men for what they are, She'll break their hearts, because she'll not Be half as good as she is fair." The new-made wife was full of pain, And raised her head and hoped again. "And will my son be fine and smart And win a noble lady's heart?" The old man winked his other eye -- "Well, knowing women as we do, The kind of man they most prefer, He'll break their hearts, because he'll be A fool, a coxcomb, and a cur." | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...OVER THE HILL TO THE POOR-HOUSE by WILLIAM MCKENDREE CARLETON WITH FLOWERS by EMILY DICKINSON THE FIRST BREAK by ALEXANDER ANDERSON POEM FOR PICTURE: TO A PORTRAIT BY EDWARD STEICHEN (RACHMANINOFF) by FRANK ANKENBRAND JR. HINC LACHRIMAE; OR THE AUTHOR TO AURORA: 34 by WILLIAM BOSWORTH |