Poetry Explorer


Classic and Contemporary Poetry


A DUTCH PROVERB by MATTHEW PRIOR

First Line: FIRE, WATER, WOMAN, ARE MAN'S RUIN, / SAYS WISE PROFESSOR VANDER BRUIN
Last Line: AND GREAT THY WISDOM, VAN DER BRUIN!
Subject(s): PROVERBS; MAXIMS; ADAGES;

'FIRE, Water, Woman, are Man's ruin!'
Says wise Professor Van der Bruin.
By flames, a house I hired was lost
Last year; and I must pay the cost.
This spring, the rains o'erflowed my ground,
And my best Flanders mare was drowned.
A slave am I to Clara's eyes;
The gipsy knows her power, and flies!
Fire, Water, Woman, are my ruin;
And great thy wisdom, Van der Bruin!



Home: PoetryExplorer.net