The Man With A Past Thomas Hardy

   There was merry-making
   When the first dart fell
   As a heralding, -
Till grinned the fully bared thing,
    And froze like a spell -
        Like a spell.

   Innocent was she,
   Innocent was I,
   Too simple we!
Before us we did not see,
   Nearing, aught wry -
        Aught wry!

   I can tell it not now,
   It was long ago;
   And such things cow;
But that is why and how
   Two lives were so -
        Were so.

   Yes, the years matured,
   And the blows were three
   That time ensured
On her, which she dumbly endured;
   And one on me -
        One on me.