A Successful Man

There was a man who killed a loving maid     In some mad mood of passion; and he paid     The price, upon a scaffold.    Now his name     Stands only as a synonym for shame.     There was another man, who took to wife     A loving woman.    She was full of life,     Of hope, and aspirations; and her pride     Clothed her like some rich mantle.              First, the wide     Glad stream of life that through her veins had sway     He dammed by rocks, cast in it, day by day.     Her flag of hope, flung gaily to the world,     He placed half mast, and then hauled down, and furled.     The aspirations, breathing in each word,     By subtle ridicule, were made absurd:     The delicate fine mantle of her pride,     With rude unfeeling hands, was wrenched aside:     And by mean avarice, or vulgar show,     Her quivering woman's heart was made to know     That she was but a chattel, bought to fill     Whatever niche might please the buyer's will.     So she was murdered, while the slow years went.     And her assassin, honoured, opulent,     Lived with no punishment, or social ban!     'A good provider, a successful man.'