Mary, Pity Women!
Rudyard Kipling
1865 to 1936
Type into the gaps 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, and resetting the poem to its original state with empty blanks. If you prefer to drag and drop words, click the Drag & Drop button below. You can also print out the poem for use in the classroom.
You call yourself a man,
For all you to swear,
An' leave me, as you can,
certain shame to bear?
I 'ear! You not care—
You done the worst you know.
'ate you, grinnin' there....
Ah, Gawd, love you so!
Nice while it lasted, an' it is over—
Tear out your 'eart an' good-bye to your lover!
What's the use o' grievin', the mother that bore you
(Mary, pity women!) knew it all before you?
It aren't no false alarm,
The finish to your fun;
You—you 'ave brung 'arm,
An' I'm the ruined one;
An' you'll off an' run
With some new fool in tow.
Your 'eart? You 'aven't none....
Ah, Gawd, I love you so!
When a is tired there is naught will bind 'im;
'e solemn promised 'e will shove be'ind 'im.
What's the good o' prayin' for The Wrath to strike 'im
(Mary, pity women!), when the rest are 'im?
What 'ope for me or—it?
What's left us to do?
I've walked with men a bit,
But this—but this is you.
So 'elp me Christ, it's true!
Where can I 'ide or go?
You through and through!...
Ah, Gawd, love you so!
All the more you give 'em the less are they for givin'—
Love lies dead, an' you cannot kiss 'im livin'.
Down the 'e led you there is no returnin'
(Mary, women!), but you're late in learnin'!
You'd like treat me fair?
You can't, because we're pore?
We'd starve? What do I care!
We might, this is shore!
I want the name—no more—
name, an' lines to show,
An' not to an 'ore....
Ah, Gawd, I love so!
What's the good o' pleadin', when the that bore you
(Mary, pity women!) knew all before you?
Sleep on 'is promises an' to your sorrow
(Mary, pity women!), for sail to-morrow!
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