A manly form at her side she saw,
And joy was duty, and love was law.
Then she took up her burden of life again
Saying only “It might have been!”
Alas! for maiden, alas! for judge,
For rich repiner and household drudge!
God pity them both! and pity us all,
Who vainly the dreams of youth recall,
For of all sad words of tongue or pen
The saddest are these “It might have been!”