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Classic and Contemporary Poetry
WHY DON'T THE MEN PROPOSE?, by THOMAS HAYNES BAYLY Poet's Biography First Line: Why don't the men propose, mamma? Last Line: Why won't the men propose? Alternate Author Name(s): Bayly, Nathaniel Thomas Haynes Subject(s): Marriage; Women; Weddings; Husbands; Wives | |||
WHY don't the men propose, mamma? Why don't the men propose? Each seems just coming to the point, And then away he goes; It is no fault of yours, mamma, That everybody knows; You fete the finest men in town, Yet, oh! they won't propose. I'm sure I've done my best, mamma, To make a proper match; For coronets and eldest sons, I'm ever on the watch; I've hopes when some distingue beau A glance upon me throws; But though he'll dance and smile and flirt, Alas! he won't propose. I've tried to win by languishing, And dressing like a blue; I've bought big books and talked of them As if I'd read them through! With hair cropp'd like a man I've felt The heads of all the beaux; But Spurzheim could not touch their hearts, And oh! they won't propose. I threw aside the books, and thought That ignorance was bliss; I felt convinced that men preferred A simple sort of Miss; And so I lisped out nought beyond Plain "yesses" or plain "noes," And wore a sweet unmeaning smile; Yet, oh! they won't propose. Last night at Lady Ramble's rout I heard Sir Henry Gale Exclaim, "Now I propose again----" I started, turning pale; I really thought my time was come, I blushed like any rose; But oh! I found 'twas only at Ecarte he'd propose. And what is to be done, mamma? Oh, what is to be done? I really have no time to lose, For I am thirty-one; At balls I am too often left Where spinsters sit in rows; Why don't the men propose, mamma? Why won't the men propose? | 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 |
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