| Edwin Arlington Robinson (1869–1935). Collected Poems. 1921. |
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| VII. The Three Taverns |
| 27. An Evangelist’s Wife |
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| “WHY am I not myself these many days, | |
| You ask? And have you nothing more to ask? | |
| I do you wrong? I do not hear your praise | |
| To God for giving you me to share your task? | |
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| “Jealous—of Her? Because her cheeks are pink, | 5 |
| And she has eyes? No, not if she had seven. | |
| If you should only steal an hour to think, | |
| Sometime, there might be less to be forgiven. | |
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| “No, you are never cruel. If once or twice | |
| I found you so, I could applaud and sing. | 10 |
| Jealous of—What? You are not very wise. | |
| Does not the good Book tell you anything? | |
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| “In David’s time poor Michal had to go. | |
| Jealous of God? Well, if you like it so.” | |
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