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diff --git a/26437.txt b/26437.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..18aea0e --- /dev/null +++ b/26437.txt @@ -0,0 +1,661 @@ +Project Gutenberg's The Rubaiyat of a Huffy Husband, by Mary B. Little + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Rubaiyat of a Huffy Husband + +Author: Mary B. Little + +Release Date: August 26, 2008 [EBook #26437] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE RUBAIYAT OF A HUFFY HUSBAND *** + + + + +Produced by Delphine Lettau, Emmy and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was +produced from images generously made available by The +Internet Archive/American Libraries.) + + + + + + + + + + +THE RUBAIYAT OF A HUFFY HUSBAND + +MARY B. LITTLE + +[Illustration: ARTI et VERITATI] + + BOSTON + RICHARD G. BADGER + =The Gorham Press= + 1908 + + _Copyright, 1908, by Mary B. Little_ + + _All Rights Reserved_ + + _The Gorham Press, Boston, U. S. A._ + + + + +THE RUBAIYAT OF A HUFFY HUSBAND + + + I + + I wake, the Sun does scatter into Flight + The Dreams of Happiness I have each Night, + O blessed Dreams--full of Domestic Bliss, + Too soon alas! They're banished with the Light. + + + II + + I'm going to tell in just the Briefest way + The cause of all my Anguish--if I may-- + Then one and all will know the Reason why + My Mien is Solemn, and I am not Gay. + + + III + + On Christmas day a good Friend did present + My Wife a Book; no doubt with best intent. + The "Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam" 'twas. + Little I dreamed the Woe of its Advent. + + + IV + + After the rush of Holidays was o'er, + And things had settled back in Place once more, + Wife found the Time to revel in that Book, + And told me how she loved its Ancient Lore. + + + V + + She soon possessed the dreadful Omar Fad, + Which other Husbands, I have learned, think Bad. + But unlike other Fads which now are Past, + This has the power to make me very Mad. + + + VI + + The others which she tired of years before,-- + Collecting Vases, Fans, and Spoons galore,-- + Did not affect the Comfort of our Home, + Therefore there was no reason to be Sore. + + + VII + + But now each time I come back to the House + I find what was my former loving Spouse + So deep absorbed in Omar's Rubaiyat, + She reads right on, and scarcely does Arouse. + + + VIII + + Or else I find her with her Pen in Hand, + Grinding out Quatrains which mayhap are Grand, + She tries to make me Listen: Rest assured + That I obey Not any such Command. + + + IX + + Had I but known just what my Fate would be, + Inside a Drawer to which I hold the Key, + That Book forever would have Disappeared + And thereby would have gained some Peace for Me. + + + X + + But ah, the Irony of Fate--that's how + "A Book of verses underneath the Bough" + Is what I hear from Morn to Dewy Eve. + A Wilderness _were_ Paradise just Now. + + + XI + + Sometimes when I am very tired, and Plead + To be amused, My Wife says, "I will read." + And this is what she tries to make me Hear, + "With Earth's first Clay they did the Last man knead." + + + XII + + But don't imagine while Possessed of Wit, + That I assent, and therefore Calmly sit. + I take my hat, and hasten from the House, + And come not back till think she's through with It. + + + XIII + + I might have Prayed, and possibly thereby + Have gained relief from Somewhere in the Sky. + But Wife says, Omar's reckoning proves it + "As Impotently moves as You or I." + + + XIV + + At least that is the Doctrine he presents, + Although to Me it is Devoid of Sense. + My unbelief in what he says does Make + My Wife's Love for him only more Intense. + + + XV + + And thus it is--the Rubaiyat's her Creed. + It is her Comfort in all sorts of Need. + I tear my hair--I storm--I swear, and yet, + 'Tis only to dear Omar she pays Heed. + + + XVI + + "Some for the Glories of this world; and some + Sigh for the Prophet's Paradise to Come;" + The greatest Boon I ask for is, I may + Supplant this Interloper as a Chum. + + + XVII + + Now all the Years that we have Wedded been, + Not once had Demon Jealousy crept in + Until this Omar--dead eight Hundred Years, + Did come and her Affection from me Win. + + + XVIII + + I feel chagrined to Think, at this late Date, + A Man so long since Dead can alienate + The fond Devotion that's been mine alone. + No Wonder I cry out 'gainst such a Fate. + + + XIX + + "The Worldly Hope men set their Hearts upon + Turns Ashes--or it prospers; and anon," + Just so those happy Days of long ago + Were Mine, for one sweet space of Time then gone. + + + XX + + The last few Months I eagerly frequent + My Clubs; wherein I hear great Argument + Regarding Wives, and how to manage them. + But come no Wiser than when in I went. + + + XXI + + Strange, is it not? Of all the Husbands who + Before me passed this Door of Trouble through + Not One has left a word of good Advice, + Nor e'en suggested what is Best to do. + + + XXII + + My Friends can't help me, yet they laugh to Scorn + My downcast looks, and at the way I Mourn. + They do not know the Anguish of my Soul, + Bereft of Wife--unhappy--and forlorn. + + + XXIII + + But this I know, whether the one True Light + Kindle to Love, or wrath consume me quite, + I'd rather have my former Happiness, + Than to Possess the Whole great World outright. + + + XXIV + + I oft' attempt to show Wife where 'twill Lead. + She gets her Book, and says I must take Heed + That--"The first Morning of Creation wrote + What the last Dawn of reckoning shall Read." + + + XXV + + One day I queried would she please to Say + How long, how long this Fad was apt to Stay? + She smiled and said, "My dear, don't fret about + 'Unborn To-Morrow and Dead Yesterday.'" + + + XXVI + + "'The Moving Finger writes, and having Writ + Moves on.'" "And surely, dear, you have the Grit + To be submissive to the Hand of Fate, + When you can't help yourself a single Bit." + + + XXVII + + PREDESTINATION--full of Unbelief-- + Must I accept it, is there no Relief? + The very thought of it most drives me Mad, + And bows me to the very Earth with Grief. + + + XXVIII + + Ah, if I only could some way Conspire + "To grasp the sorry Scheme of Things entire"; + How soon I'd shatter it to bits--and then + Remould it nearer to my Heart's desire. + + + XXIX + + Or, would some Winged Angel ere too Late + "Arrest the yet unfolded Roll of Fate" + And make the stern Recorder change the lines, + And thus restore at ONCE to me My Mate. + + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Rubaiyat of a Huffy Husband, by Mary B. 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