The Man With A Past

THERE was merry-making When the first dart fell As a heralding,— Till grinned the fully bared thing, And froze like a spell— Like a spell.

Innocent was she, Innocent was I, Too simple we! Before us we did not see, Nearing, aught wry— Aught wry!

I can tell it not now, It was long ago; And such things cow; But that is why and how Two lives were so— Were so.

Yes, the years matured, And the blows were three That time ensured On her, which she dumbly endured; And one on me— One on me.