Cyrano de Bergerac

She kicked a pebble with her toe, She tapped a railing idly – And when we met she swerved and took The corner very widely. I thought that could be love; I know The power of the male, But without an introduction The thing, she knows, will fail. And so I planned for many a day A ruse to soothe convention: Stare up at numbers over doors And some vague doctor mention; Or get myself invited to Some party where she’d be – But all these things went down the drain Of anti-dignity. And then one day we actually Did meet by introduction And I told her with a laugh or two She had been my distraction. She told me I was subtle, her Love distress to note; She was in love and worried About someone who was not. And she always thought when looking at My loving priestly face That I was one who surely Could give her love-advice… And from the mirror, going out, The lecher looked at me And grinned before resuming His priestly dignity.