Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE ANGEL IN THE HOUSE: BOOK 1. CANTO 9. PRELUDE: THE WIFE'S TRAGEDY, by COVENTRY KERSEY DIGHTON PATMORE


Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE ANGEL IN THE HOUSE: BOOK 1. CANTO 9. PRELUDE: THE WIFE'S TRAGEDY, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Man must be pleased; but him to please
Last Line: As grass grows taller round a stone.
Subject(s): Love - Marital; Wedded Love; Marriage - Love


MAN must be pleased; but him to please
Is woman's pleasure; down the gulf
Of his condoled necessities
She casts her best, she flings herself.
How often flings for nought, and yokes
Her heart to an icicle or whim,
Whose each impatient word provokes
Another, not from her, but him;
While she, too gentle even to force
His penitence by kind replies,
Waits by, expecting his remorse,
With pardon in her pitying eyes;
And if he once, by shame oppress'd,
A comfortable word confers,
She leans and weeps against his breast,
And seems to think the sin was hers;
And whilst his love has any life,
Or any eye to see her charms,
At any time, she's still his wife,
Dearly devoted to his arms;
She loves with love that cannot tire;
And when, ah woe, she loves alone,
Through passionate duty love springs higher,
As grass grows taller round a stone.





Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!


Other Poems of Interest...
Home: PoetryExplorer.net