A "woman with a past." What happier omen Could heart desire for mistress or for friend? Phœnix of friends, and most divine of women, Skilled in all fence to venture or defend And with love's science at your fingers' end, No tears to vex, no ignorance to bore, A fancy ripe, the zest which sorrows lend!— I would to God we had not met before! —I would to God! and yet to God I would That we had never met. To see you thus Is grief and wounds and poison to my blood. Oh, this is sacrilege and foul abuse. You were a thing for honour not vile use, Not for the mad world's wicked sinks and stews. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE RECRUIT by ROBERT WILLIAM CHAMBERS A SOUL'S SOLILOQUY by WENONAH STEVENS ABBOTT PEARLS OF THE FAITH: 60. AL-MU'HID by EDWIN ARNOLD CHEMISTRY OF A POEM by CAROLYN AUSTIN BLACKMWORE MAIDENS by WILLIAM BARNES A PITIFUL CASE by WILLIAM BLAKE LINES SUGGESTED BY A LATE OCCURRENCE by JOHN GARDINER CALKINS BRAINARD |