The Ruined Maid
Thomas Hardy
1840 to 1928
Drag the words to the correct places to complete the poem. To reset the game, click on the "Reset Game" button located below the poem. This will clear all the words you've placed in the blanks, returning them to the word bank and resetting the poem to its original state with empty blanks.
"O 'Melia, my dear, this does everything crown!
Who ______ have supposed I should meet you in Town?
And ______ such fair garments, such prosperi-ty?" —
"O didn't ______ know I'd been ruined?" said she.
— "You ______ us in tatters, without shoes or socks,
Tired of ______ potatoes, and spudding up docks;
And now you've gay ______ and bright feathers three!" —
"Yes: that's how ______ dress when we're ruined," said she.
— "At ______ in the barton you said thee' and thou,'
______ thik oon,' and theäs oon,' and t'other'; ______ now
Your talking quite fits 'ee for high compa-ny!" —
"Some polish is gained with one's ruin," ______ she.
— "Your hands were like paws then, your ______ blue and bleak
But now I'm bewitched by your ______ cheek,
And your little gloves fit as on any la-dy!" —
"We never do work when we're ruined," said she.
— "You used to call home-life a hag-ridden dream,
And you'd sigh, and you'd sock; but at ______ you seem
To know not of megrims or melancho-ly!" —
"True. One's pretty lively when ruined," said she.
— "I wish I had feathers, a fine sweeping gown,
And a delicate face, and could strut about Town!" —
"My dear — a raw country girl, such ______ you be,
Cannot quite expect that. You ain't ruined," said she.