101 Poems, Number 39

Favorite Poems Throughout My Life

39: “My Last Duchess,” 1842, by Robert Browning (1812–89)

I met this poem long ago—

In summer school—in ’62.

A lot for me to struggle through.

There was so much I didn’t know.

Yes, this was English 101–

At Hiram College. My first class.

(I really hoped that I would pass.)

It turned out being lots of fun.

McKinley (Charles) was the prof*—

I learned so very much from him.

My knowledge was a little … slim.

But Browning’s words just sent me off

Into a world I knew not of—

Medieval murder of a wife!

Her creepy husband took her life!

He valued meekness more than love.

And decades later? Memorized.

It took awhile—the thing is long—

Not like some children’s nursery song.

But now I’ve got it—highly prized!

*Dr. Charles F. McKinley, Hiram College

Link to poem.