 | Songs of Doubt and Dream (Poems) |  |
188
VICISSITUDE.
One must allow (although within these walls
It be discourtesy to air the fact)
Our good Mæcenas mixes, at his balls,
With something more of energy than tact.
It be discourtesy to air the fact)
Our good Mæcenas mixes, at his balls,
With something more of energy than tact.
To-night the company both charms and bores:
A few choice souls, as rare as perfect pearls;
Toadies by dozens; humbugs by the scores;
Ladies with “views,” in spectacles and curls.
A few choice souls, as rare as perfect pearls;
Toadies by dozens; humbugs by the scores;
Ladies with “views,” in spectacles and curls.
A multicolored masquerade of mind,
Whose masques are seldom dropped, as slight heed tells,
And in whose costumes multiplex we find
A marked preponderance of caps-and-bells.
Whose masques are seldom dropped, as slight heed tells,
And in whose costumes multiplex we find
A marked preponderance of caps-and-bells.
'Twould be no matter for extreme surprise
To meet the new pet poet here to-night.
Ah, see him—that pale stripling with large eyes,
Beset by lion-hunters, left and right.
To meet the new pet poet here to-night.
Ah, see him—that pale stripling with large eyes,
Beset by lion-hunters, left and right.
189
A forceful face, though showing, you might say,
Too proud a smile, a triumph too elate.
Why, the boy needed bread but yesterday,
And lo, to-day he breaks it with the great!
Too proud a smile, a triumph too elate.
Why, the boy needed bread but yesterday,
And lo, to-day he breaks it with the great!
Speaking of poets .. apropos .. I am
Still slow to see for what cause, subtly fine,
The critics once applauded and now damn
That shabby man with white hair, taking wine.
Still slow to see for what cause, subtly fine,
The critics once applauded and now damn
That shabby man with white hair, taking wine.
| Songs of Doubt and Dream (Poems) | |