Poem 17c: A modest proposal

(a pantoum, with seven footnotes to aid scholars) ⁽¹⁾

I know you’ll say no
No! No! The answer’s yes!
But can we give marriage a go?
I thought you’d never ask, I must confess.

No! No! The answer’s yes!
I went and bought a ring⁽²⁾ in case.
I thought you’d never ask, I must confess.
I didn’t want to lose face, Stace.⁽³⁾

I went and bought a ring⁽⁴⁾ in case.
I’ve already said I will
I didn’t want to lose face, Stace.⁽⁵⁾
You’re not listening to me, Bill.⁽⁶⁾

I’ve already said I will
I knew you didn’t love me
You’re not listening to me, Bill.⁽⁷⁾
You think you’re way above me.

I knew you didn’t love me
Now you’re pissing me off
You think you’re way above me.
Yeah right, I’m one of them highfalutin toffs.

Now you’re pissing me off
But can we give marriage a go?
Yeah right, I’m one of them highfalutin toffs.
I knew you’d say no.

(1) “A Modest Proposal” – Not to be confused with Jonathan Swift’s literary work with the same name
(2) An engagement ring
(3) Her name was Stacey; Stace for short. The shortening of her name implies that he knew her quite well
(4) Probably the same ring as in note 2
(5) This is the same person as in a couple of footnotes back
(6) His name was Bill
(7) This is the same person as in another footnote, not the footnote regarding Stacey but the one about Bill

To hear the poem read aloud click HERE.