Reviews are limited by at least two things: The reviewer's knowledge/background and the author's temperament. Sometimes the reviewer's understanding and interpretation of a piece misses the mark. When the author believes this is the case, he can become hurt or angered. Please don't be. This review is neither a condemnation of your work, nor an extolment. It's just my opinion, nothing more.




I can help but see a touch of vanity here. Well, I see it, if I accept that the narrator is this woman. For this line is a telltale sign (maybe:)

A promise to love him ever so nice
began with an awe of her beauty.
The face of an angel, a way to entice,
gave consent to this man, her duty.

Right off we are hit my a possible hint that she feels she is too good for him. It was her perceived beauty which she believes he was in awe of. She had the face of an angel, and the most telling: "her duty." There is no mention of love here. Automatically the reader assume that this poem won't end well.

Stanza two is more complex and that is a shame since it may be critical to understanding this poem. hat evasion? What coping? I fear there are things that only the author understands.

The poem does show her falling for him, though, those words are finally mentioned, though it seems with a caveat, "graciously." Not "passionately."

How sad to finally win her over, and the he ruins it all by being drunk. Now there is not only melodrama, but tragedy too.

I'm a little confused as to what happened in the last stanza. Her image showed up in his jail cell to take him away, and of course, she did. My question is: how did he die, or did she take his spirit away, essentially saving him from a murder sentence?

That ending was certainly unexpected, it added a romantic twist, and finally proved that she not only loved him, but forgave him for his folly. I guess she could see deeper than we and knew despite his stupid act, that his love was real. I guess it remains us of that saying, "true love lasts forever." It certainly did in this instance.

The writing is clear, the isn't intrusive on the meter or the storyline. It is a good poem, even if a tad on the sentimental side.