 | The collected works of Ambrose Bierce |  |
AGAIN
Well, I've met her again—at the Mission.
She'd told me to see her no more;
It was not a command—a petition;
I'd granted it once before.
She'd told me to see her no more;
It was not a command—a petition;
I'd granted it once before.
Yes, granted it, hoping she'd write me,
Repenting her virtuous freak—
Subdued myself daily and nightly
For the better part of a week.
Repenting her virtuous freak—
Subdued myself daily and nightly
For the better part of a week.
And then ('twas my duty to spare her
The shame of recalling me) I
Just sought her again to prepare her
For an everlasting good-bye.
The shame of recalling me) I
Just sought her again to prepare her
For an everlasting good-bye.
339
O that evening of bliss—shall I ever
Cease living it over?—although
She said, when 'twas ended: “You're never
To see me again. And now go.”
Cease living it over?—although
She said, when 'twas ended: “You're never
To see me again. And now go.”
As we parted with kisses 'twas human
And natural for me to smile
As I thought, “She's in love, and a woman:
She'll send for me after a while.”
And natural for me to smile
As I thought, “She's in love, and a woman:
She'll send for me after a while.”
But she didn't; so—well, the old Mission
Is fine, picturesque and gray;
'Tis an excellent place for contrition—
And sometimes she passes that way.
Is fine, picturesque and gray;
'Tis an excellent place for contrition—
And sometimes she passes that way.
That's how it occurred that I met her,
And that's all there is to tell—
Except that I'd like to forget her
Calm way of remarking: “I'm well.”
And that's all there is to tell—
Except that I'd like to forget her
Calm way of remarking: “I'm well.”
It was hardly worth while, all this keying
My soul to such tensions and stirs
To learn that her food was agreeing
With that little stomach of hers.
My soul to such tensions and stirs
To learn that her food was agreeing
With that little stomach of hers.
| The collected works of Ambrose Bierce | |