When Do A Daughters Duties Cease Storypoem Poem by ivor or ivor.e hogg

When do a daughters duties cease?

Wilt thou remain immaculate?
enamoured of the virgin state.
Remain always inviolate.
Art thou so sure this is thy fate?

Wilt thou reject matrimony
to moulder in some nunnery
Thou shouldst consider carefully
What such a future holds for thee.

Or is it as thy sire says.
That passing time will change thy ways
Endowing thee with greater grace.
Prepared to take thy rightful place.

Thy sire hath great plans for thee.
To see thee married happily
accepted by society.
This the future he can see.

Forget thy childish fantasy
Thou clingest to so stubbornly.
A cloistered life is not for thee
Thou lovest not austerity.

He now accepts regretfully
he overspent outrageously
To get thee wed successfully
The price of pride is penury.

To have a titled son in law
Won’t keep the bailiff from the door.
Nor satisfy his creditors
who hound him now without remorse.

Is it beneath thy dignity
to make some small enquiry.
To find out how thy father fares
Try to relieve him of his cares.

Thou livest now in luxury
whilst he must live in poverty
Hast thou forgot so easily
All that thy sire did for thee.

Although he acted foolishly
All that he did he did for thee.
He well deserves thy gratitude
and not thy thoughtless attitude.

Thou art a titled lady now
Perhaps thy husband will allow
thee to show thy sire the respect
he is entitled to expect.

Restore his fortunes so he can
although a sadder wiser man.
Again hold up his head with pride.
I pray that thou wilt so decide.

If not for love for charity
He seeketh not thy sympathy.
Nor does he seek for recompense
He did it all for love of thee.

The lady acted with all speed
she and her husband both agreed.
Her sire should reside with them
It was the perfect stratagem.

She thought her sire could agree
and still retain his dignity
and so it was she could repay
her father’s kindness in this way.

Is there a moral to this tale
or do I write to no avail.
I do not know you must decide
Was honour truly satisfied?

17/07/2009
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