CAN I forget that winter night In eighteen eighty-four, When Nellie, charming little sprite, Came tapping at the door? "Good evening, miss," I blushing said, For in my heart I knew— And, knowing, hung my pretty head— That Nellie came to woo. She clasped my big red hand, and fell Adown upon her knees, And cried: "You know I love you well, So be my husband, please!" And then she swore she'd ever be A tender wife and true— Ah, what delight it was to me That Nellie came to woo! She'd lace my shoes and darn my hose And mend my shirts, she said; And grease my comely Roman nose Each night on going to bed; She'd build the fires and fetch the coal, And split the kindling, too— Love's perjuries o'erwhelmed her soul When Nellie came to woo. And as I blushing, gave no check To her advances rash, She twined her arms about my neck, And toyed with my moustache; And then she pleaded for a kiss, While I—what could I do But coyly yield me to that bliss When Nellie came to woo? I am engaged, and proudly wear A gorgeous diamond ring, And I shall wed my lover fair Some time in gentle spring. I face my doom without a sigh— And so, forthsooth, would you, If you but loved as fond as I The Nellie who came to woo. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE COMING STORM' (A PICTURE BY R. S. GIFFORD) by HERMAN MELVILLE ITALIAN MUSIC IN DAKOTA (THE SEVENTEENTH - THE FINEST REGIMENTAL BAND) by WALT WHITMAN BACCHANALIA; OR, THE NEW AGE by MATTHEW ARNOLD SONNET: 1 by GWENDOLYN B. BENNETT THE BARN by EDMUND CHARLES BLUNDEN THE THREE SAD SHEPPARDESSES, GOE TO A LITTLE TABLE, WHERE THEY SINGE by ELIZABETH BRACKLEY |