by Ella Wheeler Wilcox (1850 - 1919)
To marry or not to marry?
Language: English
Mother says, "Be in no hurry, Marriage oft means care and worry." Auntie says, with manner grave, "Wife is synonym for slave." Father asks, in tones commanding, "How does Bradstreet rate his standing?" Sister, crooning to her twins, Sighs, "With marriage care begins." Grandma, near life's closing days, Murmurs, "Sweet are girlhood's ways." Maud, twice widowed ("sod and grass") Looks at me and moans "Alas!" They are six, and I am one, Life for me has just begun. The are older, calmer, wiser: Age should aye be youth's adviser. They must know--and yet, dear me, When in Harry's eyes I see All the world of love there burning-- On my six advisers turning, I make answer, "Oh, but Harry, Is not like most men who marry. "Fate has offered me a prize, Life with love means Paradise. "Life without it is not worth All the foolish joys of earth." So, in spite of all they say, I shall name the wedding-day.
Confirmed with Ella Wheeler Wilcox, Poetical works of Ella Wheeler Wilcox Edinburgh : W. P. Nimmo, Hay, & Mitchell, 1917
Authorship:
- by Ella Wheeler Wilcox (1850 - 1919), "To marry or not to marry?" [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Anny Mesritz-van Velthuysen (1887 - 1965), "To marry or not to marry?" [ voice and piano ], from Two songs, no. 2, Amsterdam : Broekmans & Van Poppel [sung text not yet checked]
Researcher for this page: Joost van der Linden [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2023-04-15
Line count: 28
Word count: 161