Against Nature

My widowed mother introduced

My niece to Hodge, a swine –

A vicious wretch whose natural gifts

Were poor to those of mine.

His winter jacket caught my eye –

A Danish army fleece.

I’d recognise it anywhere –

I'd given it to my neice;

And she had given it to Hodge,

Or so he said. A fever

Overcame her, so he said.

I advised him to forget her:

"Leave her to heaven and to those thorns

That in her bosom lodge

To prick and sting her.” And he said,

“Our married name was Hodge.”