The Architect at Suzanne

We met a strange old man to-day
(As we strolled in the ruined place)
And he smiled to us as we came his way,
With gentle, wistful grace.

' Ah ! Messieurs, it is very sad'
(And he waved at the ruined place),
' I scheme and plan--but it is bad--
(And there was something in his face).

'I am very, very sad to-day'
(And his frail hand touched his brow).
'My dear wife died just yesterday:
Ah! all things are ruined now!'

' This week at Bray I scheme and plan'
(And a strange smile quietly came),
' But next week I must go to Suzanne:
Suzanne? ah! that was her name!'

Media: <html xmlns:tei="http://www.tei-c.org/ns/1.0"><body><h1 align="center" class="head">The Architect at Suzanne</h1><div class="stanza"><p class="line">We met a strange old man to-day</p><p class="line">(As we strolled in the ruined place)</p><p class="line">And he smiled to us as we came his way,</p><p class="line">With gentle, wistful grace.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">' Ah ! Messieurs, it is very sad'</p><p class="line">(And he waved at the ruined place),</p><p class="line">' I scheme and plan--but it is bad--</p><p class="line">(And there was something in his face).</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">'I am very, very sad to-day'</p><p class="line">(And his frail hand touched his brow).</p><p class="line">'My dear wife died just yesterday:</p><p class="line">Ah! all things are ruined now!'</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">' This week at Bray I scheme and plan'</p><p class="line">(And a strange smile quietly came),</p><p class="line">' But next week I must go to Suzanne:</p><p class="line">Suzanne? ah! that was her name!'</p></div></body></html>