Matin Bells and Scarlet and Gold By "F. Harald Williams"[i.e. F. W. O. Ward]. First Edition |
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POLL. |
 | Matin Bells and Scarlet and Gold |  |
POLL.
Poll believes she is pretty,
And tosses her jetty
Smooth locks in the sauciest Whitechapel way;
Who shall say
To her nay,
When she glances with joking
Sly mischief and mouth that is red and provoking,
In garments of wonderful soiled disarray?
All your scruples she thinks
Are mere squeamish pretence,
And excuses the boldest offence
When she drinks.
And tosses her jetty
Smooth locks in the sauciest Whitechapel way;
Who shall say
To her nay,
When she glances with joking
Sly mischief and mouth that is red and provoking,
In garments of wonderful soiled disarray?
All your scruples she thinks
Are mere squeamish pretence,
And excuses the boldest offence
When she drinks.
Poll I know is not steady,
And always was ready
For romping or crime with an equal address,
To transgress
Or confess:
She is given to smiling
At sins that you, madam, would not find beguiling
And spends her whole time betwixt cup and caress;
But she takes such delight
If she chooses to err,
That the foulest of failings in her
Appear right.
And always was ready
For romping or crime with an equal address,
To transgress
Or confess:
She is given to smiling
At sins that you, madam, would not find beguiling
And spends her whole time betwixt cup and caress;
But she takes such delight
If she chooses to err,
That the foulest of failings in her
Appear right.
543
Poll is cheap but as charming,
And some deem alarming
When once she has fairly made up her gay mind;
Then like wind
She is blind
To the biggest obstruction,
And hurries along with a laugh to destruction
With passion and purpose no laws yet can bind;
But a method peeps out
From her maddest display,
And she knows when its best to delay
Or to pout.
And some deem alarming
When once she has fairly made up her gay mind;
Then like wind
She is blind
To the biggest obstruction,
And hurries along with a laugh to destruction
With passion and purpose no laws yet can bind;
But a method peeps out
From her maddest display,
And she knows when its best to delay
Or to pout.
Poll is company pleasant,
When no one is present
But you and herself and you bow to her will,
Nor think ill
Of her bill
Which is shamefully heavy,
And sums all she sees or resolves she can levy
From weakness or fear that is stupid and still.
But her person has points,
And in rags is more blest
Than the figure which rank may invest
And anoints.
When no one is present
But you and herself and you bow to her will,
Nor think ill
Of her bill
Which is shamefully heavy,
And sums all she sees or resolves she can levy
From weakness or fear that is stupid and still.
But her person has points,
And in rags is more blest
Than the figure which rank may invest
And anoints.
| Matin Bells and Scarlet and Gold | |