Once, on a gold May morning, As I walked through a town, I met a Merchant crying, "One white, one purple gown!" He stopped me, swift demanding, "Which will you have of me? This white -- is yours for nothing! This purple -- thalers three!" "I'll take from you, Old Merchant, The gown for which I pay!" I gayly donned the garment And went my careless way! The skies grew dark and darker; A fog brought mystery; Beside me stalked black shadows That pecked the heart of me! I sought the wary Merchant; He gave me but one look: "Hope's robe was yours for nothing! Despair's was what you took!" | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...A SHROPSHIRE LAD: 18 by ALFRED EDWARD HOUSMAN TO MR. THOMAS SOUTHERNE, ON HIS BIRTHDAY, 1742 by ALEXANDER POPE WALKING HOME AT NIGHT; HUSBAND TO WIFE by WILLIAM BARNES THE TOY BALLOONS by EDNA BECKER DER TAG: NELSON AND BEATTY by ROBERT SEYMOUR BRIDGES THE PYXIDANTHERA by AUGUSTA COOPER BRISTOL |