Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, PORTRAIT OF A YOUNG MAN WITH A BAD HEART, by WILLIAM CARLOS WILLIAMS


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

PORTRAIT OF A YOUNG MAN WITH A BAD HEART, by                 Poet's Biography
First Line: Have I seen her
Last Line: It'd be the best thing.
Subject(s): Hearts; Courtship


Have I seen her?
Only through the window
across the street.

If I go meeting her
on the corner
some damned fool
will go blabbing it
to the old man and
she'll get hell.
He's a queer old bastard!
Every time he sees me
you'd think
I wanted to kill him.
But I figure it out
it's best to let things
stay as they are --
for a while at least.

It's hard
giving up the thing
you want most
in the world, but with this
damned pump of mine
liable to give out . . .

She's a good kid
and I'd hate to hurt her
but if she can get over it --

it'd be the best thing.





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