 | Voices and visions |  |
73
SLANDER
From random converse, grave or gay,
A poisonous little lie was born.
Like many a lie that looks on day,
It failed to hold itself in scorn.
It preened each tiny and bat-black wing,
And felt for its nice poignant sting,
And said, with secret gladness, ‘I
Am a full-fledged symmetric lie.’
A poisonous little lie was born.
Like many a lie that looks on day,
It failed to hold itself in scorn.
It preened each tiny and bat-black wing,
And felt for its nice poignant sting,
And said, with secret gladness, ‘I
Am a full-fledged symmetric lie.’
Mounting in air, it paused a while,
Then lighted on a gossip's lip;
The gossip, with indifferent smile,
Brushed it aside, yet bade it slip
Into an old beau's prattling mouth,
Whence wandering north, east, west and south,
It buzzed beside the ear, at last,
Of one who gazed on it aghast.
Then lighted on a gossip's lip;
The gossip, with indifferent smile,
Brushed it aside, yet bade it slip
Into an old beau's prattling mouth,
Whence wandering north, east, west and south,
It buzzed beside the ear, at last,
Of one who gazed on it aghast.
Slyly it buzzed a tale of taint
That smirched with blame the treasured life
Of one whose duteous deeds made saint
The unworded synonym for wife.
He caught the weak slim wasp-like lie,
Crushed it in both hands, watched it die. ..
But dying it dared this taunt to fling:
‘My ghost lives on; my ghost can sting!’
That smirched with blame the treasured life
Of one whose duteous deeds made saint
The unworded synonym for wife.
He caught the weak slim wasp-like lie,
Crushed it in both hands, watched it die. ..
But dying it dared this taunt to fling:
‘My ghost lives on; my ghost can sting!’
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