HELEN

helen

bymarylamb

(summer,1800.textof1818)

high-bornhelen,roundyourdwelling

thesetwentyyearsi'vepacedinvain:

haughtybeauty,thylover'sduty

hathbeentogloryinhispain.

high-bornhelen,plainlytelling

storiesofthycolddisdain;

istarve,idie,nowyoucomply,

andinolongercancomplain.

thesetwentyyearsi'velivedontears.

dwellingforeveronafrown;

onsighsi'vefed,yourscornmybread;

iperishnowyoukindaregrown.

cani,wholovedmybeloved

butforthescorn"wasinhereye,"

canibemovedformybeloved,

whenshe"returnsmesighforsigh?"

instatelypride,bymybed-side,

high-bornhelen'sportrait'shung;

deaftomypraise,mymournfullays

arenightlytotheportraitsung.

tothatiweep,noreversleep,

complainingallnightlongtoher—

helen,grownold,nolongercold,

said,"youtoallmeniprefer."