MANY long years ago, I loved a youth, Who seemed the soul of honor and of truth -- He charmed my heart with some unholy spell, He was a serpent, whom I loved so well. The blush of girlhood had just ting'd my cheek; He knew me young -- perchance he thought me weak. 'Tis said, he often boasted of his power, To gather for his own each new-blown flower. My simple language can not well describe How first he stood before me in his pride; His form was cast in beauty's manly mould; His eyes shot fire, and his hair was gold. Fain, fain would I describe to you his glance; One look enough, to throw me in a trance; His flute-like voice -- ah! from my sleep I woke, When on mine ear the cadence gently broke. A month passed by: he lingered by my side, Longed for the time, when I should be his bride; Ah! bitter ending, of that month of years, A life of sorrow, and a life of tears. The scathing truth, like any lightning stroke, Fell'd me to earth, and my poor heart was broke; He, frightened, turned and left me, with my woe, For, in my wrath, I sternly bade him go. I've never loved again; for there, and then, All my faith vanished in the truth of men. Of that short month, 'tis seldom that I speak, And to forget my youth, in vain I seek. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...LONELY BURIAL by STEPHEN VINCENT BENET DRIVING INTO LARAMIE by JAMES GALVIN EVERYBODY KNOWS by DAVID IGNATOW COMPANIONS by GEORGIA DOUGLAS JOHNSON ANSWER TO PRAYER by JAMES WELDON JOHNSON TO CARMEN SYLVA (QUEEN OF ROUMANIA) by EMMA LAZARUS SPOON RIVER ANTHOLOGY: IPPOLIT KONOVALOFF by EDGAR LEE MASTERS |