There Was a Man and a Woman
I There was a man and a woman Who sinned. Then did the man heap the punishment All upon the head of her, And went away gaily. II There was a man and a woman Who sinned. And the man stood with her. As upon her head, so upon his, Fell blow and blow, And all people screaming, "Fool!" He was a brave heart. III He was a brave heart. Would you speak with him, friend? Well, he is dead, And there went your opportunity. Let it be your grief That he is dead And your opportunity gone; For, in that, you were a coward.
There Was a Man and a Woman - meaning Summary
Solidarity and Consequence
The poem presents three brief scenes about a man and a woman who "sinned." In the first, the man shifts all blame onto the woman and leaves. In the second, a different man shares the suffering and is called a fool but is described as brave. The final stanza addresses the reader: the brave man is dead and the reader missed the chance to act, revealing their own cowardice.
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