I merely marvelled at your eccentricity,

Feeling convinced amid my blank amaze

That, though you might "absent you from felicity

Awhile," 'twas but a temporary phase;

Convinced the mood impelling you to stifle

The aspirations that I'd dared outline

Was simply due to some extraneous trifle,

Not any flaw of mine.

A chill or toothache might have vexed you greatly;

Perhaps you had a corn inclined to shoot,