The Duet
I was smoking a cigarette;
Maud, my wife, and the tenor McKey
Were singing together a blithe duet,
And days it were better I should forget
Came suddenly back to me,
Days when life seemed a gay masque ball
And to love and be loved as the sum of it all.
As they sang together the whole scene fled,
The room’s rich hangings, the sweet home air,
Stately Maud, with her proud blonde head,
And I seemed to see in her place instead
A wealth of blue-black hair,
And a face, ah! your face, - yours, Lisette,
A face it were wiser I should forget.
We were back – well, no matter when or where,
But you remember, I know, Lisette,
I saw you, dainty, and debonnaire,
With the very same look you used to wear
In the days I should forget.
And your lips, as red as the vintage we quaffed,
Were pearl-edged bumpers of wine when you laughed.
Two small slippers with big rosettes
Peeped out under your kilt-skirt there,
While we sat smoking our cigarettes
(Oh, I shall be dust when my heart forgets!)
And singing that selfsame air;
And between the verses for interlude,
I kissed your throat, and your shoulders nude.
You were so full of a subtle fire,
You were so warm and so sweet, Lisette;
You were everything men admire,
And there were no fetters to make us tire;
For you were – a pretty grisette.
But you loved, as only such natures can,
With a love that makes heaven of hell for a man.
* * * *
They have ceased singing that old duet,
Stately Maud and the tenor McKey.
‘You are burning your coat with your cigarette,
And qu’avez-vous, dearest, your lids are wet, ’
Maud says, as she leans o’er me.
And I smile, and lie to her, husband-wise,
‘Oh, it is nothing but smoke in my eyes.’
poem by Ella Wheeler Wilcox
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The Mowing
The clock has struck six,
And the morning is fair,
While the east in red splendor is glowing;
There’s a dew on the grass, and a song in the air—
Let us up and be off to the mowing.
Wouldst know why I wait
Ere the sunlight has crept
O’er the fields where the daisies are growing?
Why all night I’ve kept my own vigils, nor slept?
’Tis to-day is the day of the mowing.
This day and this hour
Maud has promised to tell
What the blush on her cheek was half showing.
If she waits at the lane, I’m to know all is well,
And there’ll be a good time at the mowing.
Maud’s mother has said,
And I’ll never deny,
That a girl’s heart there can be no knowing.
Oh, I care not to live, and I rather would die,
If Maud does not come to the mowing.
What is it I see?
’Tis a sheen of brown hair
In the lane where the poppies are blowing.
Thank God! it is Maud—she is waiting me there,
And there’ll be a good time at the mowing.
Six years have passed by,
And I freely declare
That I scarcely have noticed their going;
Sweet Maud is my wife, with her sheen of brown hair,
And we had a good time at the mowing.
poem by Samuel Hawkins Marshall Byers from Harper's, Volume 59, Issue 350 (1879)
Submitted by Veronica Serbanoiu
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Ballade Of Blind Love
Who have loved and ceased to love, forget
That ever they loved in their lives, they say;
Only remember the fever and fret,
And the pain of Love, that was all his pay;
All the delight of him passes away
From hearts that hoped, and from lips that met -
Too late did I love you, my love, and yet
I shall never forget till my dying day.
Too late were we 'ware of the secret net
That meshes the feet in the flowers that stray;
There were we taken and snared, Lisette,
In the dungeon of La Fausse Amistie;
Help was there none in the wide world's fray,
Joy was there none in the gift and the debt;
Too late we knew it, too long regret -
I shall never forget till my dying day!
We must live our lives, though the sun be set,
Must meet in the masque where parts we play,
Must cross in the maze of Life's minuet;
Our yea is yea, and our nay is nay:
But while snows of winter or flowers of May
Are the sad year's shroud or coronet,
In the season of rose or of violet,
I shall never forget till my dying day!
ENVOY.
Queen, when the clay is my coverlet,
When I am dead, and when you are grey,
Vow, where the grass of the grave is wet,
'I shall never forget till my dying day!'
poem by Andrew Lang
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Maud Muller Mutatur
In 1909 toilet goods were not considered a serious matter and no special department of the catalogs were devoted to it. A few perfumes and creams were scattered here and there among bargain goods.
In 1919 an assortment of perfumes that would rival any city department store is shown, along with six pages of other toilet articles, including rouge and eyebrow pencils.
--From "How the Farmer Has Changed in a Decade: Toilet Goods," in Farm and Fireside's advertisement.
Maud Muller, on a summer's day,
Powdered her nose with Bon Sachet.
Beneath her lingerie hat appeared
Eyebrows and cheeks that were well veneered.
Singing she rocked on the front piazz,
To the tune of "The Land of the Sky Blue Jazz."
But the song expired on the summer air,
And she said, "This won't get me anywhere."
The Judge in his car looked up at her
And signalled "Stop!" to his brave chauffeur.
He smiled a smile that is known as broad,
And he said to Miss Muller, "Hello, how's Maud?"
"What sultry weather is this? Gee whiz!"
Said Maud. Said the Judge, "I'll say it is."
"Your coat is heavy. Why don't you shed it?
Have a drink?" said Maud. Said the Judge, "You said it."
And Maud, with the joy of bucolic youth,
Blended some gin and some French vermouth.
Maud Muller sighed, as she poured the gin,
"I've got something on Whittier's heroine."
"Thanks," said the judge, "a peppier brew
From a fairer hand was never knew."
And when the judge had had number 7,
Maud seemed an angel direct from Heaven.
And the judge declared, "You're a lvoely girl,
An' I'm for you Maudie, I'll tell the worl'."
And the judge said, "Marry me, Maudie dearie?"
And Maud said yes to the well known query.
And she often thinks, in her rustic way,
As she powders her nose with Bon Sachet,
"I never'n the world would a' got that guy,
If I'd waited till after the First o' July.
And of all glad words of prose or rhyme,
The gladdest are, "Act while there yet is time."
poem by Franklin P. Adams
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I Saw, Or Dreamed I Saw
I saw, or dreamed I saw, her sitting lone,
Her neck bent like a swan's, her brown eyes thrown
On some sweet poem -- his, I think, who sings
|Oenone, or the hapless Maud: no rings
Flashed from the dainty fingers, which held back
Her beautiful blonde hair. Ah! would these black
Locks of mine own were mingling with it now,
And these warm lips were pressed against her brow!
And, as she turned a page, methought I heard --
Hush! could it be? -- a faintly murmured word,
It was so softly dwelt on -- such a smile
Played on her brow and wreathed her lip the while
That my heart leaped to hear it, and a flame
Burned on my forehead -- Sa'ra! -- 't was my name.
poem by Henry Timrod
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Lines:
I saw, or dreamed I saw, her sitting lone,
Her neck bent like a swan's, her brown eyes thrown
On some sweet poem -- his, I think, who sings
|Oenone, or the hapless Maud: no rings
Flashed from the dainty fingers, which held back
Her beautiful blonde hair. Ah! would these black
Locks of mine own were mingling with it now,
And these warm lips were pressed against her brow!
And, as she turned a page, methought I heard --
Hush! could it be? -- a faintly murmured word,
It was so softly dwelt on -- such a smile
Played on her brow and wreathed her lip the while
That my heart leaped to hear it, and a flame
Burned on my forehead -- Sa'ra! -- 't was my name.
poem by Henry Timrod
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Pearl Of The Quarter
On the water down in new orleans
My babys the pearl of the quarter
Shes a charmer like you never seen
Singing voulez vous
Where the sailor spend his hard-earned pay
Red beans and rice for a quarter
You can see her almost any day
Singing voulez vous
Chorus:
And if you hear from my louise
Wont you tell her I love her so
Please make it clear
When her day is done
She got a place to go
I walked alone down the miracle mile
I met my baby by the shine of the martyr
She stole my heart with her cajun smile
Singing voulez vous
She loved the million dollar words I say
She loved the candy and the flowers that I bought her
She said she loved me and was on her way
Singing voulez vous
Chorus
song performed by by Steely Dan
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Maud Muller
Maud Muller on a summer's day
Raked the meadow sweet with hay.
Beneath her torn hat glowed the wealth
Of simple beauty and rustic health.
Singing, she wrought, and her merry gleee
The mock-bird echoed from his tree.
But when she glanced to the far-off town
White from its hill-slope looking down,
The sweet song died, and a vague unrest
And a nameless longing filled her breast,-
A wish that she hardly dared to own,
For something better than she had known.
The Judge rode slowly down the lane,
Smoothing his horse's chestnut mane.
He drew his bridle in the shade
Of the apple-trees, to greet the maid,
And asked a draught from the spring that flowed
Through the meadow across the road.
She stooped where the cool spring bubbled up,
And filled for him her small tin cup,
And blushed as she gave it, looking down
On her feet so bare, and her tattered gown.
"Thanks!" said the Judge; "a sweeter draught
From a fairer hand was never quaffed."
He spoke of the grass and flowers and trees,
Of the singing birds and the humming bees;
Then talked of the haying, and wondered whether
The cloud in the west would bring foul weather.
And Maud forgot her brier-torn gown
And her graceful ankles bare and brown;
And listened, while a pleased surprise
Looked from her long-lashed hazel eyes.
At last, like one who for delay
Seeks a vain excuse, he rode away.
Maud Muller looked and sighed: "Ah me!
That I the Judge's bride might be!
"He would dress me up in silks so fine,
And praise and toast me at his wine.
"My father should wear a broadcloth coat;
My brother should sail a pointed boat.
"I'd dress my mother so grand and gay,
And the baby should have a new toy each day.
"And I'd feed the hungry and clothe the poor,
And all should bless me who left our door."
The Judge looked back as he climbed the hill,
And saw Maud Muller standing still.
"A form more fair, a face more sweet,
Ne'er hath it been my lot to meet.
"And her modest answer and graceful air
Show her wise and good as she is fair.
"Would she were mine, and I to-day,
Like her, a harvester of hay.
"No doubtful balance of rights and wrongs,
Nor weary lawyers with endless tongues,
"But low of cattle and song of birds,
And health and quiet and loving words."
But he thought of his sisters, proud and cold,
And his mother, vain of her rank and gold.
So, closing his heart, the Judge rode on,
And Maud was left in the field alone.
But the lawyers smiled that afternoon,
When he hummed in court an old love-tune;
And the young girl mused beside the well
Till the rain on the unraked clover fell.
He wedded a wife of richest dower,
Who lived for fashion, as he for power.
Yet oft, in his marble hearth's bright glow,
He watched a picture come and go;
And sweet Maud Muller's hazel eyes
Looked out in their innocent surprise.
Oft, when the wine in his glass was red,
He longed for the wayside well instead;
And closed his eyes on his garnished rooms
To dream of meadows and clover-blooms.
And the proud man sighed, and with a secret pain,
"Ah, that I were free again!
"Free as when I rode that day,
Where the barefoot maiden raked her hay."
She wedded a man unlearned and poor,
And many children played round her door.
But care and sorrow, and childbirth pain,
Left their traces on heart and brain.
And oft, when the summer sun shone hot
On the new-mown hay in the meadow lot,
And she heard the little spring brook fall
Over the roadside, through a wall,
In the shade of the apple-tree again
She saw a rider draw his rein;
And, gazing down with timid grace,
She felt his pleased eyes read her face.
Sometimes her narrow kitchen walls
Stretched away into stately halls;
The weary wheel to a spinet turned,
The tallow candle an astral burned,
And for him who sat by the chimney lug,
Dozing and grumbling o'er pipe and mug,
A manly form at her side she saw,
And joy was duty and love was law.
Then she took up her burden of life again,
Saying only, "It might have been."
Alas for the maiden, alas for the Judge,
For rich repiner and househole drudge!
God pity them both and pity us all,
Who vainly the dreams of youth recall.
For of all sad words of tongue or pen,
The saddest are these: "It might have been!"
Ah, well! for us all some sweet hope lies
Deeply buried from human eyes;
And, in the hereafter, angels may
Roll the stone from its grave away!
poem by John Greenleaf Whittier
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Sweet L.A. Days
written by Neil Diamond and Doug Rhone
I can see it all now.
I will never forget
what you meant to me.
Don't have a single regret.
And I was feelin' alright
when it was just me and you.
We loved with all of our might.
That's all we wanted to do.
There ain't a lot we had to know
except that I wanted you
to be wherever I'd go.
Will anything ever be sweeter than those days?
Nobody's gonna replace
all that we shared with each other in those days,
back in those sweet L.A. days,
sweet L.A. days.
No one could ever replace
how on a Saturday night
we would jump in your car
and how we'd drive through the night
and maybe not get that far.
There wasn't much we had to learn
except that we knew the road would take us through every turn.
Will anything ever be sweeter than those days?
Nobody's gonna replace all that we shared
with each other in those days,
back in those sweet L.A. days, sweet L.A. days.
Ooee baby it's takin' me back,
back to those L.A. days,
sweet, sweet, sweet, sweet, sweet, sweet L.A. days.
They can't be taken away,
not those L.A. days, no,
those L.A. days,
sweet L.A. days
song performed by by Neil Diamond
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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I Can't Forget
I stumbled out of bed
I got ready for the struggle
I smoked a cigarette
And i tightened up my gut
I said this can't be me
Must be my double
And i can't forget
And i can't forget
I can't forget but i don't remember what
I'm burning up the road
I'm heading down to phoenix
I got this old address
Of someone that i knew
It was high and fine and free
Oh you should've seen us
And i can't forget
And i can't forget
Ican't forget but i don't remember who
I'll be there today with a big bouquet of cactus
I've got this rig that runs, runs on memory
And i promise, cross my heart they'll never catch us
But if they do just tell 'em it was me
I've loved you all my life
And that's how i want to end it
The summer's almost gone
And winter's tuning up
The summer's gone but a lot goes on forever
And i can't forget
I can't forget
I can't forget, but i don't remember what
song performed by by Pixies
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Forget Him
Forget his name
Forget his face
Forget his smile
His warm embrace
Forget the love that you once knew
Remember that he loves somone new
Forget him when they played your song
Remember you cried all night long
Forget how close you once were
Remember he has chosen her
Forget how you memorized his walk
Forget the way he used to talk
The things he used to say
Remember he has gone away
Forget his laugh
Forget his grin
The small dimples on his chin
Forget the way he held you tight
Remember he's with her tonight
Forget the time that went fast
Forget the love that moved, it's the past
He said he'd leave you never
Remember you left him
Forever
poem by Alexis Alexis
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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(Remember The Days Of The) Old Schoolyard
Remember the days of the old schoolyard
We used to laugh a lot, oh don't you
Remember the days of the old schoolyard
When we had imaginings and we had
All kinds of things and we laughed
And needed love... yes, I do
Oh and I remember you
Remember the days of the old schoolyard
We used to cry a lot, oh don't you
Remember the days of the old schoolyard
When we had simplicity and we had
Warm toast for tea and we laughed
And needed love.. yes, I do
Oh and I remember you
You were my sweet love, my first sweet love
My lovey dove, my love lovey dove
No matter what place, whichever the place
I still see your face, your smiling face
In childish dreams, inside my dreams
Like King and Queen, God save our dreams
N'though time may face, though time may fade
It ain't never too late, to learn about love
Learn about love
Remember the days of the old schoolyard
We used to laugh a lot, oh don't you
Remember the days of the old schoolyard
When we had imaginings and we had
All kinds of things and we laughed
And needed love... yes, I do
Oh and I remember you
song performed by by Cat Stevens
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Old Schoolyard
Remember the days of the old schoolyard
We used to laugh a lot, oh don't you
Remember the days of the old schoolyard
When we had imaginings and we had
All kinds of things and we laughed
And needed love... yes, i do
Oh and i remember you
Remember the days of the old schoolyard
We used to cry a lot, oh don't you
Remember the days of the old schoolyard
When we had simplicity and we had
Warm toast for tea and we laughed
And needed love.. yes, i do
Oh and i remember you
You were my sweet love, my first sweet love
My lovey dove, my love lovey dove
No matter what place, whichever the place
I still see your face, your smiling face
In childish dreams, inside my dreams
Like king and queen, god save our dreams
N'though time may face, though time may fade
It ain't never too late, to learn about love
Learn about love
Remember the days of the old schoolyard
We used to laugh a lot, oh don't you
Remember the days of the old schoolyard
When we had imaginings and we had
All kinds of things and we laughed
And needed love... yes, i do
Oh and i remember you
song performed by by Cat Stevens
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Sadie and Maud
Maud went to college.
Sadie stayed home.
Sadie scraped life
With a fine toothed comb.
She didn't leave a tangle in
Her comb found every strand.
Sadie was one of the livingest chicks
In all the land.
Sadie bore two babies
Under her maiden name.
Maud and Ma and Papa
Nearly died of shame.
When Sadie said her last so-long
Her girls struck out from home.
(Sadie left as heritage
Her fine-toothed comb.)
Maud, who went to college,
Is a thin brown mouse.
She is living all alone
In this old house.
poem by Gwendolyn Brooks
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That Other Maud Muller
Maud Muller worked at making hay,
And cleared her forty cents a day.
Her clothes were coarse, but her health was fine,
And so she worked in the sweet sunshine
Singing as glad as a bird in May
'Barbara Allen' the livelong day.
She often glanced at the far-off town,
And wondered if eggs were up or down.
And the sweet song died of a strange disease,
Leaving a phantom taste of cheese,
And an appetite and a nameless ache
For soda-water and ginger cake.
The judge rode slowly into view--
Stopped his horse in the shade and threw
His fine-cut out, while the blushing Maud
Marveled much at the kind he 'chawed.'
'He was dry as a fish,' he said with a wink,
'And kind o' thought that a good square drink
Would brace him up.' So the cup was filled
With the crystal wine that old spring spilled;
And she gave it him with a sun-browned hand.
'Thanks,' said the judge in accents bland;
'A thousand thanks! for a sweeter draught,
From a fairer hand'--but there he laughed.
And the sweet girl stood in the sun that day,
And raked the judge instead of the hay.
poem by James Whitcomb Riley
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I Cant Forget
i remember us
should i forget?
i remember your eyes
should i forget?
i remember your touch
should i forget?
i remember your voice
should i forget?
i remember your face
should i forget?
i remember your care
should i forget?
i remember your feelings
should i forget?
i remember your personality :)
should i forget?
i remember my thoughts of you
i cant forget, should i forget?
i remember the good times with you
i cant forget, should i forget?
i remember the comfort from you
i cant forget, should i forget?
i remember my love for you
i cant forget, i wont ever forget!
poem by Samantha Duran
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I Cant Forget
I stumbled out of bed
I got ready for the struggle
I smoked a cigarette
And I tightened up my gut
I said this cant be me
Must be my double
And I cant forget, I cant forget
I cant forget but I dont remember what
Im burning up the road
Im heading down to phoenix
I got this old address
Of someone that I knew
It was high and fine and free
Ah, you should have seen us
And I cant forget, I cant forget
I cant forget but I dont remember who
Ill be there today
With a big bouquet of cactus
I got this rig that runs on memories
And I promise, cross my heart,
Theyll never catch us
But if they do, just tell them it was me
Yeah I loved you all my life
And thats how I want to end it
The summers almost gone
The winters tuning up
Yeah, the summers gone
But a lot goes on forever
And I cant forget, I cant forget
I cant forget but I dont remember what
song performed by by Leonard Cohen
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Back Together Again
Hes back together again
Yeah evryone is glad that hes together again
Just like the old days, old days, old days
Yeah he could sing, he could sing, he could sing
Hes back together again
You know hes still got the moves
You know the grooves still there
Just like the old days old days, old days
Yeah he could sing, he could sing, listen to him sing
Back together again, back together again singing the same old story
Back together again, back together again
The old songs never end
Gives you something to believe in
Remember sixty-five
Well the kids are all grown up
But their records are still alive
Just like the old days, old days, old days
Yeah he could sing, he could sing, he could sing
Hes back riding high
The charts are full of love, hes on evrybodys dial
Just like the old days, old days, old days
Yeah he could sing, he could sing
Listen to him sing
Back together again, back together again singing the same old story
Back together again, back together again
The old songs never end
Thats you something to believe in
The old songs never end
Oh just listen to him sing
Back together again, back together again
Singing the same old story
Back together again, back together again
The old songs never end
And thats you something to believe in
song performed by by Hall & Oates
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Forget Him
Forget his name,
Forget his Face,
Forget his kiss
His warm embrace
Forget the love you once knew
Remember he has someone new
Forget him when they played your song
Remember when you cried all night long
Forget how close you two were
Remember he has chosen her
Forget you memorized his walk
Forget the way he used to talk
Forget the things he used to say
Remember he has gone away
Forget his laugh
Forget his grin
Forget the dimple on his chin
Forget the way he held you tight
Remember he’s with her tonight
Forget the time that went so fast
Forget the love that moved its past
Forget he said he’d leave you never
Remember that he’s gone forever…
poem by Courtney Lynn
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Forget Him
Forget his name
Forget his face
Forget his kiss
His warm embrace
Forget the love that you once knew
Remember he has someone new
Forget him when they played your song
Remember when you cried all night long
Forget how close you once were
Remember he has chosen her
Forget how you memorized his walk
Forget the way he used to talk
Forget the things he used to say
Remember he has gone away
Forget his laugh, forget his grin
Forget the dimples on his chin
Forget the way he held you tight
Remember he's with her tonight
Forget the time that went so fast
Forget the love that moved it's passed
Forget he said he'd leave you never
Remember he's gone forever
poem by Lucy Pickford
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Forget Him
forget his name
forget his face
forget his kiss
his warm embrace
forget the love that you once knew
remember he has someone new
forget him they played your song
remember when you cried all night long
forget how close you once were
remember he has chosen her
forget how you memorized his walk
forget the way he used to talk
forget the things he used to say
remember he has gone away
forget his laught, forget his grin
forget the dimples on his chin
forget the way he held you tight
remember he's with her tonight
forget the time that went so fast
forget the love that moved, it's past
forget he said he leave you never
remember he's gone forever
poem by Kristyann Celello
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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