Poems of Optimism by Ella Wheeler Wilcox
page 49 of 87 (56%)
page 49 of 87 (56%)
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Now you shall listen to a few plain facts Before you go out wholly from my life As some man's wife. Read carefully this statement of your acts Which changed the lustre of my honeymoon To sombre gloom, And wrenched the cover from Pandora's box. In those first talks 'Twixt bride and groom I showed you my whole heart, Showed you how deep my love was and how true; With all a strong man's feeling I loved YOU: (God, how I loved you, my one chosen mate.) But I learned this (So poorly did you play your little part): You married marriage, to avoid the fate Of having 'Miss' Carved on your tombstone. Love you did not know, But you were greedy for the showy things That money brings. Such weak affection as you could bestow Was given the provider, not the lover. The knowledge hurt. Keen pain like that is dumb; And masks itself in smiles, lest men discover. But I was lonely; and the feeling grew The more I studied you. Into your shallow heart love could not come, But yet you loved my love; because it gave |
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