OCR Text |
Show THE VAMPIRE. A fool there was and he made his prayer (Even as you and I), To a rag and a bone and a hank of hair (We called her the woman who did not care) ; But the fool he called her his lady fair (Even as you and I). Oh, the tears we waste and the years we waste, And the work of our head and hand Belong to the woman who did not know (And now we" know that she never could know) And did not understand. A fool there was and his goods he spent (Even as you and I), Honor and faith and a sure intent (Aand it wasn't the least what the lady meant) ; ' But a fool must follow his natural bent s (Even as you and I). Oh, the toil we lost and the spoil we lost, And the excellent things we planned i Belonged to the woman who did not know why) And did not understand. The fool was stripped to his foolish hide (Even as you and I), ( Which he might have seen when she threw him 4 aside ' ! (But it isn't on record the lady tried), ' So some, of him lived, but the most of him died i (Even as you and I). ' ( And it isn't th shame but it isn't the blame That stings like a white-hot brand; ' It's coming to know that she never knew why t (Seeing at last she could never know why) ;( And never could understand. j Rudyard Kipling. , |