He was weak, and I was strong－then－1
So He let me lead him in－
I was weak, and He was strong then－
So I let him lead me－Home.
'Twasn't far－the door was near－5
'Twasn't dark－for He went－too－
'Twasn't loud, for He said nought－
That was all I cared to know.
Day knocked－and we must part－9
Neither－was strongest－now－
He strove－and I strove－too－
We didn't do it－tho'!
So He let me lead him in－
I was weak, and He was strong then－
So I let him lead me－Home.
'Twasn't far－the door was near－5
'Twasn't dark－for He went－too－
'Twasn't loud, for He said nought－
That was all I cared to know.
Day knocked－and we must part－9
Neither－was strongest－now－
He strove－and I strove－too－
We didn't do it－tho'!
(F.221/J.190)
[1–4] weak, strong, lead:: two partners in playing Whist, a card game like Bridge.
[4] Home:: the goal in a game.
[5] door:: they were trying to make a grand slam, a joke on slaming the door; or a way to reach goal.
[6] dark:: don't know how to play; he went the right way too.
[7] loud:: the game Whist, some said it was named from concentration and quietness needed.
[9] Day:: one of the opponent's name. knocked:: won a trick, or trumped.
[12] do it:: to win a grand slam.
Whist is a well-known game at cards, which requires great attention and silence: hence the name. ─ Hoyle's Games (1857)