A man steals a kiss under the mistletoe and is stunned by how badly the woman reacts. He insists that if he had known she would be so upset, he never would have dared. Yet even as he says this, he admits the kiss itself was bliss and worth whatever punishment followed. The real problem is that he misread her: she lingered beneath the mistletoe long enough that he believed she wanted to be kissed. The poem circles back over the same lines, which makes it feel like the speaker is stuck replaying the moment in his head, half apologetic and half defensive. The mood is rueful and a little breathless—part romantic excitement, part embarrassment. There is no real resolution; he simply keeps trying to explain himself, caught between enjoying the kiss and regretting the misunderstanding.
Under the Mistletoe — Summary
Did not know she’d take it so, Or else I’d never dared; Although the bliss was worth the blow, I did not know she’d take it so. She stood beneath the mistletoe So long I thought she cared; I did not know she’d take it so, Or else I’d never dared.