 | [Poems by Halleck in] Fitz-Greene Halleck : An Early Knickerbocker Wit and Poet |  |
436
To a Piece of Plumb-Cake
Some folks like pleasant sights to please the eye;
Some like to charm the scene by gentle smell;
And some to court the ear with music's sigh;
But I with Epicurean sages wise
Love the delights that on the palate dwell.
Some like to charm the scene by gentle smell;
And some to court the ear with music's sigh;
But I with Epicurean sages wise
Love the delights that on the palate dwell.
Sweet piece of cake! to thee the bard shall raise
The tuneful notes from his devoted lyre;
And as I chaunt oh! charming cake, thy praise,
I'll cut a little bit between my lays,
My pen with magic ardor to inspire.
The tuneful notes from his devoted lyre;
And as I chaunt oh! charming cake, thy praise,
I'll cut a little bit between my lays,
My pen with magic ardor to inspire.
But yet, dear bit of cake, I'd have thee know
It is not for thy taste alone, I woo thee;
For Emma's gentle finger well I trow
Hath mused among thee when thou wert but dough
And that imparted thy sweet flavor to thee.
It is not for thy taste alone, I woo thee;
For Emma's gentle finger well I trow
Hath mused among thee when thou wert but dough
And that imparted thy sweet flavor to thee.
And yet perhaps that Emma's lily hands
Were dirty gentle cake, when thou wast made;
I'll never mind it, for by God's command,
Each man must eat his peck of dirt or sand;
At least by ancient proverb so 'tis said.
Were dirty gentle cake, when thou wast made;
I'll never mind it, for by God's command,
Each man must eat his peck of dirt or sand;
At least by ancient proverb so 'tis said.
And Emma, since I've sweetly sung thy praise,
In strains that might have charmed the bards of Greece,
Oh! then reward your minstrels charming lays,—
Perchance again to you his song he'll raise,
And humbly ask you for another piece.
In strains that might have charmed the bards of Greece,
Oh! then reward your minstrels charming lays,—
Perchance again to you his song he'll raise,
And humbly ask you for another piece.
| [Poems by Halleck in] Fitz-Greene Halleck : An Early Knickerbocker Wit and Poet | |