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Classic and Contemporary Poetry
CROOKED STICK, by SAMUEL LOVER Poem Explanation Poet's Biography First Line: Julia was lovely and winning | |||
Julia was lovely and winning- And Julia had lovers in plenty, They outnumber'd her years More than twice, it appears- She killed fifty before she was twenty. Young Harry Had asked her to marry; But Julia could never decide, Thus early, on being a bride; With such ample choice, She would not give her voice, In wedlock so soon to be tied; And though she liked Hal, thought it better to wait, Before she would finally fix on her fate; For though "Harry was every way worthy" to get her, Perhaps she might see some one else she liked better. Hal, discarded by Venus, went over to Mars; And set off to the war in a troop of hussars; To sabres and bullets exposing a life Made wretched to him by the want of a wife; But Death would not take what fair Julia refused; And, in fact, Harry thought himself very ill used By "Death and the Lady"-till Time's precious ointment, Cured the wound Julia made, And the soldier's bold blade Soon won him a colonel's appointment; And then he went home, by hard service made sager, And found Julia had married a yellow old major. For the sake of old times, Harry called on the lady, Who was now on that side of this life they call "shady;" Which, though pleasant in streets, in the summer's bright sun, On life's path is not pleasant-when summer's all done. He took her hand kindly-and hoped she was well- And looked with a tender regret on his belle! Ah! Julia! how's this?-I would not give you pain, But I think I may ask, without being thought vain, How the girl who refused to let Harry encage her, Could consent to be trapped by a yellow old major?" Come dine here, said she-"and at evening we'll take, On horseback a ride through the hazlewood brake; And as I've lost my whip-you must go to the wood, And cut me a riding switch handsome and good, Something nice-such a one as I'll keep for your sake, As a token of friendship; but pray do not make Your absence too long-for we dine, sharp, at six; But you'll see, before then, many beautiful sticks." Harry went on this mission, to rifle the riches Of the hazlewood brake-and saw such lovely switches, But none good enough to present, as a token, To her who, "lang syne," had his burning heart broken; The wood was passed through-and no switch yet selected, When "six o'clock," suddenly, Hal recollected, And took out his watch:-but ten minutes to spare- He employed those ten minutes with scrupulous care, But, spite of his pains-the best switch he selected Did not equal, by much, many first he rejected; He eye'd it askance-and he bent it-and shook it- And owned, with a shrug, 'twas a leetle bit crooked. He returned, and told Julia the state of the case, When she-(a faint smile lighting up a sad face)- Said, "Harry, your walk through the hazlewood brake Is my history-a lesson that many might take; At first, you saw beautiful sticks by the score, And hoped to get better, with such 'plenty more,' But at the last moment-no time left to pick- You were forced to put up with a crooked stick." Oh Woman!-designed for the conquest of hearts, To your own native charms add not too many arts; If a poet's quaint rhyme might dare offer advice, You should be nice all over-but not over-nice. I don't wish a lady so wondrously quick As to sharpen her knife for the very first stick; But-for one good enough-it were best not o'erlook it, Lest, in seeking too straight ones-you get but the crooked. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...RORY O'MORE; OR, ALL FOR GOOD LUCK by SAMUEL LOVER THE ANGEL'S WHISPER by SAMUEL LOVER THE LOW-BACKED CAR by SAMUEL LOVER BABY DEAR; CRADLE SONG OF THE BUCCANEER'S WIFE by SAMUEL LOVER FATHER MOLLOY; OR, THE CONFESSION by SAMUEL LOVER I'M NOT MYSELF AT ALL! by SAMUEL LOVER LIVE IN MY HEART AND PAY NO RENT by SAMUEL LOVER |
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