 | Poems |  |
145
I AM FASHION'S TOY.
LINES WRITTEN UPON SEEING A FASHIONABLY-DRESSED LADY ASK A SERVANT FOR A FEW BLADES OF GRASS, WHICH SHE PLACED UPON HER BOSOM.
Oh! give to me of the bright green leaves,
For they tell me of the past;
When I roved at will mid the golden sheaves—
And my heart it wildly, madly grieves,
And it throbs so painfully fast,
As I think of the days of peace and joy
That forever are gone—I am fashion's toy.
For they tell me of the past;
When I roved at will mid the golden sheaves—
And my heart it wildly, madly grieves,
And it throbs so painfully fast,
As I think of the days of peace and joy
That forever are gone—I am fashion's toy.
Yes, the modeste decks my raven hair,
In many a shape and coil—
And she dyes my cheek with the carmine rare,
And she makes my brow as the lily fair,
And they tell me, for beauty I can compare
With the daughters of eastern soil;
Yet, I sigh when I smile in my empty joy,
For I know, alas! I am fashion's toy.
In many a shape and coil—
And she dyes my cheek with the carmine rare,
And she makes my brow as the lily fair,
146
With the daughters of eastern soil;
Yet, I sigh when I smile in my empty joy,
For I know, alas! I am fashion's toy.
My form is stately, and full of pride—
And the high of the land linger near my side,
Yet as they fawning bow,
My heart flows back on sweet memory's tide,
And I forget they are near my side,
And the past seems to me now.
Then I dream of the sweets that could not cloy,
For a moment forget, I am fashion's toy.
And the high of the land linger near my side,
Yet as they fawning bow,
My heart flows back on sweet memory's tide,
And I forget they are near my side,
And the past seems to me now.
Then I dream of the sweets that could not cloy,
For a moment forget, I am fashion's toy.
Yes, this grass reminds me of long past hours,
When in the woodland glen
I revelled 'mid song and birds and flowers,
And formed, with the evergreen, fairy bowers.
Ah! I was not lonely then;
For he was with me, my pride, my joy—
He is dead to me now, I am fashion's toy.
When in the woodland glen
I revelled 'mid song and birds and flowers,
And formed, with the evergreen, fairy bowers.
Ah! I was not lonely then;
For he was with me, my pride, my joy—
He is dead to me now, I am fashion's toy.
147
Ah! the hearts and the diamonds that lie at my feet—
Hearts are all hollow, and diamonds a cheat,
Yet I cannot cast them away;
I need much wealth for my life of deceit—
Yes, I need it every day.
I must give to the poor, for that bliss doesn't cloy;
'Tis my only relief—I am fashion's toy.
Hearts are all hollow, and diamonds a cheat,
Yet I cannot cast them away;
I need much wealth for my life of deceit—
Yes, I need it every day.
I must give to the poor, for that bliss doesn't cloy;
'Tis my only relief—I am fashion's toy.
And is there no end to this empty life;
To this life of lip-smiles and a soul at strife?
Must it ever, ever last?
Shall I look through the vista dim of years,
And see there naught but grief, sin, and tears?
Ah! these blades of grass for a moment brief,
O'erflood my soul with a sweet relief,
And I live in the happy past.
In my dreams, I again am a maiden coy,
And I live o'er my life of love and joy—
Now, the dream is past. I am fashion's toy.
To this life of lip-smiles and a soul at strife?
Must it ever, ever last?
Shall I look through the vista dim of years,
And see there naught but grief, sin, and tears?
Ah! these blades of grass for a moment brief,
O'erflood my soul with a sweet relief,
And I live in the happy past.
In my dreams, I again am a maiden coy,
And I live o'er my life of love and joy—
Now, the dream is past. I am fashion's toy.
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