I KNEW it was comin', I'd watched fer a year <br />Without sayin' a word to a soul excep' Ma <br />Of the sweet sort o' things that were happenin' here, <br />An,' 'You orter feel mighty glad of it, Pa!' <br />Was all that she said. But I didn't somehow, <br />I'd a feelin' that only old men understand, <br />I knew it was comin'. And it's happened now! <br />An' I answered yes, when he ast fer her hand. <br /> <br />I dodged him six weeks, now it's done, I confess. <br />I contrived it so's he'd never get me alone, <br />I knew all the time that he wanted our Bess, <br />An' that he was eager to make his wants known. <br />But he got me last night, passed me out a see-gar <br />An' while he was talkin' I looked at the band, <br />I knew in my heart that he wouldn't get far <br />Afore he'd get courage an' ask fer her hand. <br /> <br />An' I shook like a man with the ague, I guess, <br />Like a fellow must feel when they've doomed him to die, <br />An' I didn't look up when I answered him yes, <br />I was almost ashamed of the tears in each eye. <br />He's honest and clean, he's a man through and through <br />An' as soon as I got my old heart in command, <br />I said: 'Since it must be, I am glad it is you, <br />I give you my best when I give you her hand.' <br /> <br />I knew it was comin'. For months I could see <br />It was love that was lightin' those young people's eyes, <br />And so when he finally did corner me <br />I know what he said wasn't any surprise. <br />Now Ma's kissin' 'em both, then she'll come out and cry, <br />An' tomorrow she'll tell me it's perfectly grand; <br />Oh, happy young man, mebbe some day you'll sigh <br />When you're asked to part with your little one's hand.<br /><br />Edgar Albert Guest<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/cornered-10/
