 | 'Twixt Kiss and Lip or Under the Sword. By the author of "Women Must Weep," [i.e. F. W. O. Ward] Third edition |  |
AN INCONVENIENT ARRANGEMENT.
He is fifty seasons older,
All a man should never be,
Somewhat crookèd in the shoulder,
Rather shaky at the knee;
Coarse and vulgar, given to using
Language but for pothouse fit,
Spurning grammar laws, confusing
Scurrilous attacks with wit;
Fat and foolish, and if sober
Hiccoughing how he can pay,
Dreary as a dull October
Dragged through fog and foul decay.
All a man should never be,
Somewhat crookèd in the shoulder,
Rather shaky at the knee;
Coarse and vulgar, given to using
Language but for pothouse fit,
Spurning grammar laws, confusing
Scurrilous attacks with wit;
Fat and foolish, and if sober
Hiccoughing how he can pay,
Dreary as a dull October
Dragged through fog and foul decay.
She is sixteen, April, human,
Rich in health and dainty charms—
Child, that, waking into woman,
Stretches out both eager arms;
Friendly, fond of dress, and dancing,
Wise in curious pugs and “Polls,”
Pressing forward, and yet glancing
Shyly back on tarts and dolls;
Plunging gaily into pleasure,
Midnight pranks, the moon, the stage,
Glad to share youth's golden treasure
Still with comrades of her age.
Rich in health and dainty charms—
Child, that, waking into woman,
Stretches out both eager arms;
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Wise in curious pugs and “Polls,”
Pressing forward, and yet glancing
Shyly back on tarts and dolls;
Plunging gaily into pleasure,
Midnight pranks, the moon, the stage,
Glad to share youth's golden treasure
Still with comrades of her age.
Hence an inconvenient puzzle—
Jack is always after her,
Jack who always wears a muzzle,
Married to his grandmother;
Should she, in the Row called Rotten,
Peradventure choose to ride,
One will not leave her forgotten,
Faithful Jack is at her side;
If a headache makes her martyr,
Posing sweetly on her back,
Who will (humming a sonata)
Casually drop in, but Jack?
Jack is always after her,
Jack who always wears a muzzle,
Married to his grandmother;
Should she, in the Row called Rotten,
Peradventure choose to ride,
One will not leave her forgotten,
Faithful Jack is at her side;
If a headache makes her martyr,
Posing sweetly on her back,
Who will (humming a sonata)
Casually drop in, but Jack?
And whenever she goes shopping,
Lured by Elise and her wiles,
Jack by accident comes popping
Out, all innocence and smiles;
Once they say—just like the scandal,
Talked in drawing-room and park—
Jack blew out decorum's candle,
Lit between her and the dark;
So poor “grandpapa” keeps fretting,
Dreams of poison and the knife,
Meditates divorce, while getting
Doubtful comfort from Jack's wife.
Lured by Elise and her wiles,
Jack by accident comes popping
Out, all innocence and smiles;
Once they say—just like the scandal,
Talked in drawing-room and park—
Jack blew out decorum's candle,
Lit between her and the dark;
So poor “grandpapa” keeps fretting,
Dreams of poison and the knife,
Meditates divorce, while getting
Doubtful comfort from Jack's wife.
| 'Twixt Kiss and Lip or Under the Sword. By the author of "Women Must Weep," [i.e. F. W. O. Ward] Third edition | |