The Claim

Edith Nesbit 1858 (Kennington, Surrey ) – 1924 (New Romney, Kent)



OH! I admit I'm dull and poor,
And plain and gloomy, as you tell me;
And dozens flock around your door
Who in all points but one excel me.

You smile on them, on me you frown,
They worship for the wage you pay;
I lay life, love, and honour down
For you to walk on every day.

I am the only one who sees
That though such gifts can never move you,
A meagre price are gifts like these
For life's high privilege--to love you.

I am the one among your train
Who sees that loving you is worth
A thousand times the certain gain
Of all the heaped-up joys of earth.

And you, who know as well as I,
What your glass tells you every morning--
A kindred soul you should descry,
Dilute with sympathy your scorning.

At least you should approve the intense
Love that gives all for you to waste;
Your other lovers have more sense,
Admit that I have better taste.

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Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on March 05, 2023

51 sec read
59

Quick analysis:

Scheme ABXB CDCD EFEF GHGH XIAI JKJK
Closest metre Iambic tetrameter
Characters 850
Words 168
Stanzas 6
Stanza Lengths 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4

Edith Nesbit

Edith Nesbit (married name Edith Bland) was an English author and poet; she published her books for children under the name of E. Nesbit. She wrote or collaborated on more than 60 books of children's literature. She was also a political activist and co-founded the Fabian Society, a socialist organisation later affiliated to the Labour Party. more…

All Edith Nesbit poems | Edith Nesbit Books

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