Suppressed Poems of Alfred Lord Tennyson — The Skipping-Rope

=The Skipping-Rope= [This poem, published in the second volume of _Poems by Alfred Tennyson_ (in two volumes, London, Edward Moxon, MDCCCXLII), was reprinted in every edition until 1851, when it was suppressed.

] Sure never yet was Antelope Could skip so lightly by.

Stand off, or else my skipping-rope Will hit you in the eye.

How lightly whirls the skipping-rope!

How fairy-like you fly!

Go, get you gone, you muse and mope-- I hate that silly sigh.

Nay, dearest, teach me how to hope, Or tell me how to die.

There, take it, take my skipping-rope And hang yourself thereby.

XLIV