The Ruined Maid
"O 'Melia, my dear, this does everything crown!
Who could have supposed I should meet you in Town?
And whence such fair garments, such prosperi-ty?"-
"O didn't you know I'd been ruined?" said she.
-"You left us in tatters, without shoes or socks,
Tired of digging potatoes, and spudding up docks;
And now you've gay bracelets and bright feathers three!"-
"Yes: that's how we dress when we're ruined," said she.
-"At home in the barton you said 'thee' and 'thou,'
And 'thik oon' and 'theäs oon' and 't'other'; but now
Your talking quite fits 'ee for high compan-ny!"-
"Some polish is gained with one's ruin," said she.
-"Your hands were like paws then, you face blue and bleak
But now I'm bewitched by your delicate cheek,
And your little gloves fit as on any la-dy!"-
"We never do work when we're ruined," said she.
-"You used to call home-life a hag-ridden dream,
And you'd sigh, and you'd sock; but at present you seem
To know not of megrims or melancho-ly!"-
"True. One's pretty lively when ruined," said she.
-"I wish I had feathers, a fine sweeping gown,
And a delicate face, and could strut about Town"-
"My dear - raw country girl, such as you be,
Cannot quite expect that. You ain't ruined," said she.
Thomas Hardy
D'autres poésies de Thomas Hardy
"Between Us Now"
Between us now and here -
Two thrown together
"How Great My Grief" (Triolet)
How great my grief, my joys how few,
Since first it was...
"I Have Lived With Shades"
I
I have lived with shades so long,
And...
"I Need Not Go"
I need not go
Through sleet and snow
To where I...
"I Said to Love"
I said to Love,
"It is not now as in old days
When...
[Greek Title]
Long have I framed weak phantasies of Thee,
O Willer...
A Broken Appointment
You did not come,
And marching Time drew on, and wore me...
A Christmas Ghost Story.
South of the Line, inland from far Durban,
A mouldering...
A Christmas Ghost-Story
South of the Line, inland from far Durban,
A mouldering...
A Commonplace Day
The day is turning ghost,
And scuttles from the kalendar...
Précédentes poésies
Winds of May
Winds of May, that dance on the sea,
Dancing a...
Who Goes Amid the Green Wood
Who goes amid the green wood
With springtide all adorning...
When the Shy Star Goes Forth in Heaven
When the shy star goes forth in heaven
All maidenly,...
What Counsel Has the Hooded Moon
What counsel has the hooded moon
Put in thy heart, my...
Watching the Needleboats at San Sabba
I heard their young hearts crying
Loveward above the...

