Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE RETORT, by GEORGE POPE MORRIS Poet's Biography First Line: Old birch [or, nick], who taught the village school Last Line: "o, dear! I didn't know 't was you!" Alternate Author Name(s): Morris, George Perkins Subject(s): Marriage; Women; Weddings; Husbands; Wives | ||||||||
OLD BIRCH, who taught the village school, Wedded a maid of homespun habit; He was as stubborn as a mule, And she as playful as a rabbit. Poor Kate had scarce become a wife Before her husband sought to make her The pink of country polished life, And prim and formal as a Quaker. One day the tutor went abroad, And simple Katie sadly missed him, When he returned, behind her lord She shyly stole, and fondly kissed him. The husband's anger rose, and red And white his face alternate grew: "Less freedom, ma'am!" Kate sighed and said, "O, dear! I didn't know 't was you!" | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...A BLESSING FOR A WEDDING by JANE HIRSHFIELD A SUITE FOR MARRIAGE by DAVID IGNATOW ADVICE TO HER SON ON MARRIAGE by MARY BARBER THE RABBI'S SON-IN-LAW by SABINE BARING-GOULD KISSING AGAIN by DORIANNE LAUX A TIME PAST by DENISE LEVERTOV MY MOTHER'S BIBLE by GEORGE POPE MORRIS |
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