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.