Provide, Provide



The witch that came (the withered hag)
To wash the steps with pail and rag
Was once the beauty Abishag,

The picture pride of Hollywood.
Too many fall from great and good
For you to doubt the likelihood.

Die early and avoid the fate.
Or if predestined to die late,
Make up your mind to die in state.

Make the whole stock exchange your own!
If need be occupy a throne,
Where nobody can call you crone.

Some have relied on what they knew,
Others on being simply true.
What worked for them might work for you.

No memory of having starred
Atones for later disregard
Or keeps the end from being hard.

Better to go down dignified
With boughten friendship at your side
Than none at all. Provide, provide!

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Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on May 03, 2023

39 sec read
1,450

Quick analysis:

Scheme AAA BBB CCC DDD EEE FFF GGG
Closest metre Iambic tetrameter
Characters 684
Words 132
Stanzas 7
Stanza Lengths 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3

Robert Frost

 · 1874 · San Francisco
 · 1963 · Boston

Robert Lee Frost was an American poet. His work was initially published in England before it was published in America. He is highly regarded for his realistic depictions of rural life and his command of American colloquial speech. more…

All Robert Frost poems | Robert Frost Books

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1 Comment
  • Ruthmahogany
    Better to go down dignified
    LikeReply3 months ago

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"Provide, Provide" Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 13 Nov. 2024. <https://www.poetry.com/poem/30892/provide,-provide>.

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