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Her Dilemma

THE two were silent in a sunless church,
      Whose mildewed walls, uneven paving-stones,
    And wasted carvings passed antique research;
      And nothing broke the clock's dull monotones.

    Leaning against a wormy poppy-head,
      So wan and worn that he could scarcely stand,
    —For he was soon to die,—he softly said,
      "Tell me you love me!"—holding hard her hand.

    She would have given a world to breathe "yes" truly,
      So much his life seemed hanging on her mind,
    And hence she lied, her heart persuaded throughly,
      'Twas worth her soul to be a moment kind.

    But the sad need thereof, his nearing death,
      So mocked humanity that she shamed to prize
    A world conditioned thus, or care for breath
      Where Nature such dilemmas could devise.

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Comments


  • March 28
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    Poem

    From guest uoebhwfib (contact)
    Great poem

  • montez
    June 26, 2007

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    I'm confused

    I've read it three times now, and I can't work out if she lied and told him she loved him, or didn't - the dilemma being too great. I'd be interested to read how other people conceived it ; I haven't yet read any other comments.
    Logic would tell me that she was in such a dilemma that she did neither.
    BTW What does he mean by throughly - is it a word he made up, for rhyming purposes?
    Still, a very enjoyable read, and I'm off to read more of his work now.
    I'm pleased to have been introduced to this wonderful man.
    RT.


    • I-Like-Rhymes Moderators member
      June 27, 2007
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      Her mouth said yes her heart said no

      She fairly obviously (to my mind anyway) did not love him {she would have liked to say so honestly} and yet being kind she lied and said she did. She knew lying was a sin {'Twas worth her soul } but unkindness was worse in her mind.
      Throughly is an archaic (to us) version of thoroughly.
      Glad you liked his work anyway. I hope to see more of your comments on the site.
      We even have an Allpoetry competition for them! http://allpoetry.com/contest/show/2354150
      Jim
      Oldpoetry team


  • July 3, 2004
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    This poem really helped me through such a painful period of my life. It was such a comfort to know that others had faced such 'dilemas'. 'And hence she lied, her heart persuaded thoroughly, ...' Poetry that reaches into the soul.