Classic and Contemporary Poetry
MY WIFE'S COUSIN, SELECTION, by WILLIAM EDMONSTOUNE AYTOUN Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: Mary, wife, where art thou, dearest? Last Line: With the self-same curly hair. Alternate Author Name(s): Bon Gaultier (with Theodore Martin) | ||||||||
... "Mary, wife, where art thou, dearest?" Thus I cry, while yet afar; Ah, what scent invades my nostrils? 'Tis the smoke of a cigar! Instantly into the parlour Like a maniac I haste, And I find a young Life-Guardsman With his arm round Mary's waist. ... "Fires and furies! what the blazes?" Thus in frenzied wrath I call; When my spouse her arm upraises With a most astounding squall. "Was there ever such a monster? Ever such a wretched wife? Oh! how long must I endure it, How protract this hateful life? All day long quite unprotected, Does he leave his wife at home; And she cannot see her cousins, Even when they kindly come!" ... In fear I faintly falter "This your cousin?Then he's mine! Very glad, indeed, to see you. Won't you stop with us and dine?" Won't a ferret suck a rabbit? As a thing of course he stops And with most voracious swallow Walks into my mutton chops. In the twinkling of a bed-post Is each savory platter clear, And he shows uncommon science In his estimate of beer. Half and half goes down before him, Gurgling from the pewter-pot; And he moves a counter motion For a glass of something hot. Neither chops nor beer I grudge him, Nor a moderate share of goes; But I know not why he's always Treading upon Mary's toes. Evermore when home returning. From the counting-house I come, Do I find the young Life-Guardsman Smoking pipes and drinking rum. Yet I know he's Mary's cousin For my only son and heir Much resembles that young Guardsman With the self-same curly hair. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE BROKEN PITCHER by WILLIAM EDMONSTOUNE AYTOUN THE EXECUTION OF MONTROSE by WILLIAM EDMONSTOUNE AYTOUN THE HEART OF THE BRUCE by WILLIAM EDMONSTOUNE AYTOUN A LAMENT FOR PERCY BYSSHE SHELLEY by WILLIAM EDMONSTOUNE AYTOUN A MIDNIGHT MEDITATION by WILLIAM EDMONSTOUNE AYTOUN BLIND OLD MILTON by WILLIAM EDMONSTOUNE AYTOUN BOTHWELL: PART 1 by WILLIAM EDMONSTOUNE AYTOUN BOTHWELL: PART 2 by WILLIAM EDMONSTOUNE AYTOUN BOTHWELL: PART 3 by WILLIAM EDMONSTOUNE AYTOUN BOTHWELL: PART 5 by WILLIAM EDMONSTOUNE AYTOUN BOTHWELL: PART 6 by WILLIAM EDMONSTOUNE AYTOUN CHARLES EDWARD AT VERSAILLES ON THE ANNIVERSARY OF CULLODEN by WILLIAM EDMONSTOUNE AYTOUN |
|