A MAIDEN once, of certain age, To catch a husband did engage; But, having passed the prime of life In striving to become a wife Without success, she thought it time To mend the follies of her prime. Departing from the usual course Of paint and such like for resource, With all her might this ancient maid Beneath an oak-tree knelt and prayed; Unconscious that a grave old owl Was perched above -- the mousing fowl! "Oh, give! a husband give!" she cried, "While yet I may become a bride; Soon will my day of grace be o'er, And then, like many maids before, I'll die without an early love, And none to meet me there above! "Oh, 'tis a fate too hard to bear! Then answer this my humble prayer, And oh, a husband give to me!" Just then the owl from out the tree, In deep bass tones cried, "Who -- who -- who!" "Who, Lord? And dost Thou ask me who? Why, any one, good Lord, will do." | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...A COLONIAL MORNING DREAM by KAREN SWENSON THE WILDERNESS TRANSFORMED by PHILIP DODDRIDGE EPITAPH ON THOMAS CLERE, SURREY'S FAITHFUL FRIEND AND FOLLOWER by HENRY HOWARD ON A GREEK VASE by FRANK DEMPSTER SHERMAN SONNETS OF MANHOOD: 40. PANTHEISTIC DREAMS by GEORGE BARLOW (1847-1913) |