An Episode

Ella Wheeler Wilcox 1855 (Janesville) – 1919



Along a narrow Moorish street
A blue-eyed soldier strode.
(Ah, well-a-day.)
Veiled from her lashes to her feet
She stepped from her abode,
(Ah, lack-a-day.)

Now love may guard a favoured wife
Who leaves the harem door;
(Ah, well-a-day.)
But hungry hearted is her life
When she is one of four.
(Ah, lack-a-day.)

If black eyes glow with sudden fire
And meet warm eyes of blue-
(Ah, well-a-day.)
The old, old story of desire
Repeats itself anew.
(Ah, lack-a-day.)

When bugles blow the soldier flies-
Though bitter tears may fall
(Ah, lack-a-day.)

A Moorish child with blue, blue eyes
Plays in the harem hall.

(Ah, well-a-day.)

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Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on March 05, 2023

34 sec read
61

Quick analysis:

Scheme abCabC deCdeC fgCfgC hiC hi
Closest metre Iambic trimeter
Characters 608
Words 116
Stanzas 5
Stanza Lengths 6, 6, 6, 3, 2

Ella Wheeler Wilcox

Ella Wheeler Wilcox was an American author and poet. more…

All Ella Wheeler Wilcox poems | Ella Wheeler Wilcox Books

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