HIS LAST DUCHESS
Of course I liked Fra Pandolf – wouldn't you?
He was so kind and friendly while he drew
preliminary sketches of my face,
and this was such a deadly boring place.
I was just seventeen when I came here,
and didn't know my lord was so austere,
I hoped, since he was such a handsome man,
he'd be kind too, but what a puritan
he proved to be! And as I faithful wife,
I looked for small ways to improve my life--
rides on my pretty mule, the cherry trees
I planted in the orchard – things like these
were harmless, surely. And I thought it fun
to have my portrait painted. It was done
so quickly, but for just a little while
I had a friend, and paid him with a smile.
All harmless pleasures, for I'd surely not
be guilty towards my lord...but I forgot
how far a wife is in a husband's power.
He had me strangled in the northern tower.
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