The Bibliomaniac's Bride

Eugene Field 1850 (St. Louis) – 1895 (Chicago)



The women-folk are like to books,--
 Most pleasing to the eye,
Whereon if anybody looks
 He feels disposed to buy.

I hear that many are for sale,--
 Those that record no dates,
And such editions as regale
 The view with colored plates.

Of every quality and grade
 And size they may be found,--
Quite often beautifully made,
 As often poorly bound.

Now, as for me, had I my choice,
 I'd choose no folio tall,
But some octavo to rejoice
 My sight and heart withal,--

As plump and pudgy as a snipe;
 Well worth her weight in gold;
Of honest, clean, conspicuous type,
 And just the size to hold!

With such a volume for my wife
 How should I keep and con!
How like a dream should run my life
 Unto its colophon!

Her frontispiece should be more fair
 Than any colored plate;
Blooming with health, she would not care
 To extra-illustrate.

And in her pages there should be
 A wealth of prose and verse,
With now and then a jeu d'esprit,--
 But nothing ever worse!

Prose for me when I wished for prose,
 Verse when to verse inclined,--
Forever bringing sweet repose
 To body, heart, and mind.

Oh, I should bind this priceless prize
 In bindings full and fine,
And keep her where no human eyes
 Should see her charms, but mine!

With such a fair unique as this
 What happiness abounds!
Who--who could paint my rapturous bliss,
 My joy unknown to Lowndes!

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Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on March 05, 2023

1:15 min read
130

Quick analysis:

Scheme ABAB CDCD EFEF GXGC HIHI JKJK LMLM NONO PQPQ RSRS TXTX
Closest metre Iambic tetrameter
Characters 1,308
Words 251
Stanzas 11
Stanza Lengths 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4

Eugene Field

Eugene Field, Sr. was an American writer, best known for his children's poetry and humorous essays. more…

All Eugene Field poems | Eugene Field Books

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