Joseph Skipsey

Slighted

AH me, my heart is like to break,
The envied rose upon my cheek,
The blood red rose is cold and bleak
     Since he has slighted me.
 
A very shadow lone and pale,
I all unheard my lot bewail,
He listens to another’s tale,
     He has no ear for me.
 
Erewhile as if a toad were I,
He with that other passed me by;
She “hemm’d” and tossed her head on
           high,
     And he, he scowled at me.
 
Ah, had he looked upon my grief,
Had he not sought to give relief,
I feel my days below are brief,
     By his harsh ways to me.
 
I trail about I know not how,
I like a thief slink down the row,
For well behind my back I know,
     The rest all laugh at me.
 
The one unto the other wink
Whenever down the row I slink;
Their hearts are filled with glee to
           think
     How he’s deserted me.
 
The very bairns have caught their
           words,
As notes are caught by mocking birds;
By jibes are rent my bosom chords,
     And grief is killing me.
 
I feel my days on earth are brief—
Ah, could he look upon my grief,
Would he not try to bring relief,
     And rue his wrong to me?
 
I dream’d last night to me he came,
A blush was on his cheek for shame;
He took my hand, he breathed my
           name,
     He spake kind words to me.
 
Back from mine eyes my locks he drew,
He bound them with a ribbon blue,
He kiss’d me as he used to do—
     He gave such looks to me.
 
Such looks?   No sun will rise or set
When I forget those looks—forget
Those star-bright eyes—those eyes of jet,
     Which stole my heart from me.
 
The vision fled and I was left
With tear on tear, with heart thrice cleft,
To mourn a lot of hope bereft
     By his false vows to me.
 
He’ll rue that e’er he wrong’d me so,
Yet were my woe a greater woe,
I would not do by him—ah, no!
     As he has done by me.
 
My heart is rent, my heart is sore,
A canker eats into its core;
Yet would I breathe my last before
     He’d wring a curse, from me.
 
Alas, alas!   Deceiver say,
How could’st thou wile my heart away,
Then leave me thus by night and day
     To sigh and pine for thee?
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