Hope Outlives, but Love Forgives

Autobiographical.

When I was dewy-eyed I dreamt of love,

of a kind of love fit for a virgin

for whom romance betrays no vice or sin

for God or man to shame or disapprove.  

But I, unblessed and cursed as from up above

by Providence, quit as Misfortunes won;

Having lost all hope for love's boon, I spun

myself away on the wings of Sorrow's dove

into the rough lap of a subtle w***e,

a trollop to whom I gave my chastity

who then confessed to me there were three-score

more she's had,--I cried, "What cruel irony!"

      But so long as there's breath and hope outlives,

      love will come and when it comes: it forgives.