Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, A DUTCH PROVERB, by MATTHEW PRIOR



Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

A DUTCH PROVERB, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Fire, water, woman, are man's ruin, / says wise professor vander bruin
Last Line: And great thy wisdom, van der bruin!
Subject(s): Proverbs; Maxims; Adages


'FIRE, Water, Woman, are Man's ruin!'
Says wise Professor Van der Bruin.
By flames, a house I hired was lost
Last year; and I must pay the cost.
This spring, the rains o'erflowed my ground,
And my best Flanders mare was drowned.
A slave am I to Clara's eyes;
The gipsy knows her power, and flies!
Fire, Water, Woman, are my ruin;
And great thy wisdom, Van der Bruin!





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