Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, MISTRESS FATE, by WILLIAM ROSE BENET



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MISTRESS FATE, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Flout her power, young man!
Last Line: You gaze them down, old man?
Subject(s): Women


Flout her power, young man!
She is merely shrewish, scolding, --
She is plastic to your moulding,
She is woman in her yielding to the fires desires fan.
Flout her power, young man!

Fight her fair, strong man!
Such a serpent love is this, --
Bitter wormwood in her kiss!
When she strikes, be nerved and ready;
Keep your gaze both bright and steady,
Chance no rapier-play, but hotly press the quarrel she began!
Fight her fair, strong man!

Gaze her down, old man!
Now no laughter may defy her,
Not a shaft of scorn come nigh her,
But she waits within the shadows, in dark shadows very near.
And her silence is your fear.
Meet her world-old eyes of warning! Gaze them down with courage! Can
You gaze them down, old man?





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