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Poem
August 10, 1905
The Hope Pioneer
Hope, Steele County, Griggs County, North Dakota
What is this article about?
A shy man reflects on a beautiful woman's smile, questioning if it stems from his flustered appearance or mutual interest, expressing his admiration and uncertainty in her charm.
Clipping
OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
A Modest Man's Perplexity
She smiled at me when she and I
Met face to face a while ago
She smiled at me--I wonder why?
Ah, what would I not give to know?
A sweeter, fairer maid than she
Has never crossed the path I tread
A while ago she smiled at me:
I wonder if my nose was red?
When I behold her lovely face
My cares to all the winds are blown,
Her form is lithe and full of grace,
The charms of youth are all her own;
The happy sod should yield a rose
Where'er 'tis pressed by her slim foot--
I wonder if across my nose
There might have been a streak of soot?
The day is dismal when in vain
I watch to see her pass; the skies
Are quickly brightened when I gain
A glance, in passing, from her eyes;
I wonder if she smiled because
She knew my thoughts or noticed how
Befuddled and how flushed I was?
Perhaps she's laughing at me now.
Sometimes I fancy that she knows
Her luscious beauty gladdens me;
Sometimes I fancy that she shows
A willingness to let me see.
She smiled up at me when we met,
Then looked away and hurried by:
Sometimes I gladly think--and yet--
Perhaps--she smiled! I wonder why
She smiled at me when she and I
Met face to face a while ago
She smiled at me--I wonder why?
Ah, what would I not give to know?
A sweeter, fairer maid than she
Has never crossed the path I tread
A while ago she smiled at me:
I wonder if my nose was red?
When I behold her lovely face
My cares to all the winds are blown,
Her form is lithe and full of grace,
The charms of youth are all her own;
The happy sod should yield a rose
Where'er 'tis pressed by her slim foot--
I wonder if across my nose
There might have been a streak of soot?
The day is dismal when in vain
I watch to see her pass; the skies
Are quickly brightened when I gain
A glance, in passing, from her eyes;
I wonder if she smiled because
She knew my thoughts or noticed how
Befuddled and how flushed I was?
Perhaps she's laughing at me now.
Sometimes I fancy that she knows
Her luscious beauty gladdens me;
Sometimes I fancy that she shows
A willingness to let me see.
She smiled up at me when we met,
Then looked away and hurried by:
Sometimes I gladly think--and yet--
Perhaps--she smiled! I wonder why
What sub-type of article is it?
Ballad
Song
What themes does it cover?
Love Courtship
What keywords are associated?
Modest Man
Woman Smile
Infatuation
Self Doubt
Romance Perplexity
Poem Details
Title
A Modest Man's Perplexity
Key Lines
She Smiled At Me When She And I
Met Face To Face A While Ago
She Smiled At Me I Wonder Why?
Ah, What Would I Not Give To Know?
Perhaps She Smiled! I Wonder Why