 | Rhymes with reason and without |  |
75
THE JACKET OF BLUE.
[_]
The Sensitive Man was at a concert one night, and in the seat directly before him was a knit jacket, of most exquisite mould, encircling a form of faultless symmetry. Above the jacket arose a charming neck, about which played, in golden dalliance, a wave of brilliant curls. His heart was a-glow at once. He saw nothing but the jacket and curls, for the face was turned away; and, taking out his pencil, he wrote a burning sonnet to the “Jacket of Blue” on the crown of his hat. The sonnet burned up by self-combustion; but the recollection of the feeling that occasioned it yet remains, and the theme of his ardent soul is now
'T was a neat little, sweet little jacket of blue,
With trimming of fur all encompassed around it,
And fastened with ribbons of loveliest hue,
Which girdled the beautiful apex that crowned it.
I gazed on the vesture like one in a dream,
My fancy took wing as I pondered upon it,
And quicker than thought the delectable theme
Had taken the form of a heavenly sonnet.
With trimming of fur all encompassed around it,
And fastened with ribbons of loveliest hue,
Which girdled the beautiful apex that crowned it.
I gazed on the vesture like one in a dream,
My fancy took wing as I pondered upon it,
And quicker than thought the delectable theme
Had taken the form of a heavenly sonnet.
That sonnet! 't was rapture's most exquisite tone,
Poured forth from a soul by ecstasy haunted;
Alas! with its theme has the melody flown,
And fancy has wakened, but not disenchanted;
In pleasure's gay walks are my eyes still inclined
To watch for that delicate jacket's appearing,
And the beautiful neck, with ringlets entwined,
Like a lily in spring from a blue lake uprearing.
Poured forth from a soul by ecstasy haunted;
Alas! with its theme has the melody flown,
And fancy has wakened, but not disenchanted;
In pleasure's gay walks are my eyes still inclined
To watch for that delicate jacket's appearing,
And the beautiful neck, with ringlets entwined,
Like a lily in spring from a blue lake uprearing.
76
'T was a neat little, sweet little jacket of blue,
With trimming of fur all encompassed around it,
And fastened with ribbons of loveliest hue,
Which girdled the lily-white beauty that crowned it.
I owned to its thrall, and I still feel its charm,—
'T will haunt me, I fear, to life's lattermost minute;
I feel well assured—heaven shield me from harm!—
That jacket of blue had the d---ickens within it.
With trimming of fur all encompassed around it,
And fastened with ribbons of loveliest hue,
Which girdled the lily-white beauty that crowned it.
I owned to its thrall, and I still feel its charm,—
'T will haunt me, I fear, to life's lattermost minute;
I feel well assured—heaven shield me from harm!—
That jacket of blue had the d---ickens within it.
| Rhymes with reason and without | |