PERCHANCE it was her eyes of blue, Her cheeks that might the rose have shamed, Her figure in proportion true To all the rules by artists framed; Perhaps it was her mental worth That made her lover love her so, Perhaps her name, or wealth, or birth -- I cannot tell -- I do not know. He may have had a rival, who Did fiercely gage him to a duel, And, being luckier of the two, Defeated him with triumph cruel; Then @3she@1 may have proved false, and turned To welcome to her arms his foe, Left @3him@1 despairing, conquered, spurned -- I cannot tell -- I do not know. So oft such woes will counteract The thousand ecstacies of love, That you may fix on base of fact The story hinted at above; But all on earth so doubtful is, Man @3knows@1 so little here below, That, if you ask for proof of this, I cannot tell -- I do not know. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...LAUGHTER (YOUTH SPEAKS TO HIS OWN OLD AGE) by CONRAD AIKEN SCHOOLS OF LITTLE FISH by MARVIN BELL THE BIRTH OF VENUS by HAYDEN CARRUTH DESPAIR by GEORGIA DOUGLAS JOHNSON JOHANNA PEDERSEN by KAREN SWENSON ORANGUTAN REHAB by KAREN SWENSON |