Thomas Hardy

The Protean Maiden

        (Song)

This single girl is two girls:
How strange such things should be!
One noon eclipsed by few girls,
The next no beauty she.

And daily cries the lover,
In voice and feature vext:
‘My last impression of her
Is never to be the next!

‘She’s plain: I will forget her!
She’s turned to fair. Ah no,
Forget? – not I! I’ll pet her
With kisses swift and slow.’