Palinode

A poem by a well-known poet retracting something said in a previous poem

Though I vow that once we met,

I now confess that I was lying,

Truth to tell, with much regret,

I wasn’t me that she was eyeing.

Say I’m evil, say I’m bad,

Say I thought she’d not resist me,

Say my lips were poised, but add,

Jenny missed me.

Other lads were there beside me,

Everyone but me she kissed,

How could Jenny so deride me?

Leave me off her kissing list?

Say I’m soulful, say I’m sad,

Say my instincts should have warned me,

Say I gave my all, but add,

Jenny scorned me.

Rondeau by Leigh Hunt