THE RUINED MAID
by: Thomas Hardy (1840-1928)
- "
'Melia, my dear, this does everything crown!
- Who could have supposed I should meet you in Town?
- And whence such fair garments, such prosperi-ty?"--
- "O didn't you know I'd been ruined?" said she.
-
- "You left us in tatters, without shoes or socks,
- Tired of digging potatoes, and spudding up docks;
- And now you've gay bracelets and bright feathers three!"--
- "Yes: that's how we dress when we're ruined," said
she.
-
- -- "At home in the barton you said `thee' and `thou,'
- And `thik oon,' and `theäs oon,' and `t'other'; but
now
- Your talking quite fits 'ee for high compa-ny!"--
- "Some polish is gained with one's ruin," said she.
-
- -- "Your hands were like paws then, your face blue and
bleak
- But now I'm bewitched by your delicate cheek,
- And your little gloves fit as on any la-dy!"--
- "We never do work when we're ruined," said she.
-
- -- "You used to call home-life a hag-ridden dream,
- And you'd sigh, and you'd sock; but at present you seem
- To know not of megrims or melancho-ly!"--
- "True. One's pretty lively when ruined," said she.
-
- -- "I wish I had feathers, a fine sweeping gown,
- And a delicate face, and could strut about Town!"--
- "My dear -- a raw country girl, such as you be,
- Cannot quite expect that. You ain't ruined," said she.
"The Ruined Maid" is reprinted
from Poems of the Past and Present. Thomas Hardy. New
York: Harper & Brothers, 1902. |
MORE
POEMS BY THOMAS HARDY |
|