No.14

A GENTLEMAN’S SECOND-HAND SUIT

Here it is hanging in the sun
By the pawn-shop door,
A dress-suit - all its revels done
Of heretofore.
Long drilled to the waltzer’s swing and sway,
As its tokens show;
What it has seen, what it could say
If it did but know!

The sleeve bears still a print of powder
Rubbed from her arms
When she warmed up as the notes swelled louder
And livened her charms -
Or rather theirs, for beauties many
Leant there, no doubt,
Leaving these tell-tale traces when he
Spun them about.

Its cut seems rather in bygone style
On looking close,
So it mayn’t have bent it for some while
To the dancing pose;
Anyhow, often within its clasp
Fair partners hung,
Assenting to the wearer’s grasp
With soft sweet tongue.

Where is, alas, the gentleman
Who wore this suit?
And where are his ladies? Tell none can;
Gossip is mute.
Some of them may forget him quite
Who smudged his sleeve,
Some think of a wild and whirling night
With him, and grieve.

-oo0oo-

I SAY I’LL SEEK HER

I say, “I’ll seek her side
Ere hindrance interposes”;
But eve in midnight closes,
And here I still abide.

When darkness wears I see
Her sad eyes in a vision;
They ask, “What indecision
Detains you, Love, from me? -

“The creaking hinge is oiled,
I have unbarred the backway,
But you tread not the track way
And shall the thing be spoiled?

“Far cockcrows echo shrill,
The shadows are abating,
And I am waiting, waiting;
But, O, you tarry still!”

-oo0oo-

A SHEEP FAIR

The day arrives of the autumn fair,
And torrents fall,
Though sheep in throngs are gathered there,
Ten thousand all,
Sodden, with hurdles round them reared;
And, lot by lot, the pens are cleared,
And the auctioneer rings out his beard,
And wipes his book, bedrenched and smeared,
And rakes the rain from his face with the edge of his hand,
As torrents fall.

-oo0oo-

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