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Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE WATER OF GOLD, by HENRY AUSTIN DOBSON Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: Buy, - who'll buy?' in the market place Last Line: Or the thing that has vanished, past returning. Alternate Author Name(s): Dobson, Austin | |||
'BUY, -- who'll buy?' In the market-place, Out of the market din and clatter, The quack with his puckered persuasive face Patters away in the ancient patter. 'Buy, -- who'll buy? In this flask I hold -- In this little flask that I tap with my stick, sir -- Is the famed, infallible Water of Gold, -- The One, Original, True Elixir! 'Buy, -- who'll buy? There's a maiden there, -- She with the ell-long flaxen tresses, -- Here is a draught that will make you fair, Fit for an Emperor's own caresses! 'Buy, -- who'll buy? Are you old and gray? Drink but of this, and in less than a minute, Lo! you will dance like the flowers in May, Chirp and chirk like a new-fledged linnet! 'Buy, -- who'll buy? Is a baby ill? Drop but a drop of this in his throttle, Straight he will gossip and gorge his fill, Brisk as a burgher over a bottle! 'Here is wealth for your life, -- if you will but ask; Here is health for your limb, without lint or lotion; Here is all that you lack, in this tiny flask; And the price is a couple of silver groschen! 'Buy, -- who'll buy?' So the tale runs on: And still in the Great World's market-places The Quack, with his quack catholicon, Finds ever his crowd of upturned faces; For he plays on our hearts with his pipe and drum, On our vague regret, on our weary yearning; For he sells the thing that never can come, Or the thing that has vanished, past returning. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...A GAGE D'AMOUR by HENRY AUSTIN DOBSON A GARDEN SONG by HENRY AUSTIN DOBSON ARS VICTRIX (IMITATED FROM THEOPHILE GAUTIER) by HENRY AUSTIN DOBSON BEFORE SEDAN by HENRY AUSTIN DOBSON DORA VERSUS ROSE by HENRY AUSTIN DOBSON GROWING GRAY by HENRY AUSTIN DOBSON HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW; IN MEMORIAM by HENRY AUSTIN DOBSON IN AFTER DAYS; RONDEAU by HENRY AUSTIN DOBSON THE BALLAD OF PROSE AND RHYME by HENRY AUSTIN DOBSON WHEN THERE IS PEACE by HENRY AUSTIN DOBSON |
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