WHAT is it all that men possess, among themselves conversing? Wealth or fame, or some such boast, scarce worthy the rehearsing. Women only are men's good, with them in love conversing. If weary, they prepare us rest; if sick, their hand attends us; When with grief our hearts are prest, their comfort best befriends us: Sweet or sour, they willing go to share what fortune sends us. What pretty babes with pain they bear, our name and form presenting! What we get, how wise they keep! by sparing, wants preventing; Sorting all their household cares to our observed contenting. All this, of whose large use I sing, in two words is expressed: Good Wife is the good I praise, if by good men possessed; Bad with bad in ill suit well; but good with good live blessed. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...CAPPER KAPLINSKI AT THE NORTH SIDE CUE CLUB by HAYDEN CARRUTH O DREAMS, O DESTINATIONS by CECIL DAY LEWIS STUDY FOR A GEOGRAPHICAL TRAIL; 3. WASHINGTON, D.C. by CLARENCE MAJOR DEAF HOUSE AGENT by KATHERINE MANSFIELD MANHATTAN, 1609 by EDWIN MARKHAM SPOON RIVER ANTHOLOGY: EUGENE CARMAN by EDGAR LEE MASTERS |