He wished he knew.

yesterday, i received an e-mail (did they announce it in BBC World?). sent by a college classmate of mine addressed to my class e-group.

it had a poem.
there was also a texted-image which strangely egged me on to open an attachment so that it can play a movie for me! the email's subject said something like 'Will you be my Valentine?' (what the hell?!)

i realized it was a virus sent by a bot posing as my friend. (don't worry. this ain't some techie blog. i'm coming to the point).

what caught my eyes were the starting lines of the poem in that impostor of an e-mail.
"A stranger came to the door at eve,
And he spoke the bridegroom fair.
..."

i was attracted instantly and started reading the verses. (well, as long as i don't click on the blighted attachment, my laptop won't complain of any infection!).
the poem amazed me.

here it is, in its entirety.
Quote
"
A STRANGER came to the door at eve,
And he spoke the bridegroom fair.
He bore a green-white stick in his hand,
And, for all burden, care.

He asked with the eyes more than the lips
For a shelter for the night,
And he turned and looked at the road afar
Without a window light.

The bridegroom came forth into the porch
With, 'Let us look at the sky,
And question what of the night to be,
Stranger, you and I.'

The woodbine leaves littered the yard,
The woodbine berries were blue,
Autumn, yes, winter was in the wind;
'Stranger, I wish I knew.'

Within, the bride in the dusk alone
Bent over the open fire,
Her face rose-red with the glowing coal
And the thought of the heart's desire.

The bridegroom looked at the weary road,
Yet saw but her within,
And wished her heart in a case of gold
And pinned with a silver pin.

The bridegroom thought it little to give
A dole of bread, a purse,
A heartfelt prayer for the poor of God,
Or for the rich a curse;

But whether or not a man was asked
To mar the love of two
By harboring woe in the bridal house,
The bridegroom wished he knew.
"
End Quote

it turned out to be the work of Robert Frost. (i mean the poem of course, not the e-mail. Frost definitely ain't spamming me!)
i found he had titled it 'Love and a question' (yes, i googled).

the way Frost paints the scene in words is breathtaking.
and so does the skill he shows in portraying the inner minds (the lurking questions...) and hearts (the burning desires...) of the bride and her groom.

and the question that tortures the groom's psyche...what would one do in such a scenario....he wished he knew!

intriguing.

.