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Classic and Contemporary Poetry


THE PROTEAN MAID (SONG) by THOMAS HARDY

Poet Analysis

First Line: THIS SINGLE GIRL IS TWO GIRLS
Last Line: "WITH KISSES SWIFT AND SLOW."

THIS single girl is two girls:
How strange such things should be!
One noon eclipsed by few girls,
The next no beauty she.

And daily cries the lover,
In voice and feature vext:
"My last impression of her
Is never to be the next!

"She's plain: I will forget her!
She's turned to fair. Ah no,
Forget? -- not I! I'll pet her
With kisses swift and slow."



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