Poetry Archives

Max laid his hand upon the old man’s arm,
“Before God, sir, I vow, when you are gone,
So to protect your daughter from all harm
As one man may.”  Thus sorrowful, forlorn,
The situation to Max Breuck appeared,
He gave his promise almost without thought,
Nor looked to see a difficulty.  “Bred
Gently to watch a mother left alone;
Bound by a dying father’s wish, who feared
The world’s accustomed harshness when he should be dead;