Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE CAMP, by MARY DARBY ROBINSON


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE CAMP, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Tents, marquees, and baggage waggons
Last Line: Nothing clean—and nothing quiet.
Subject(s): Soldiers; War


Tents, marquees, and baggage waggons;
Suttling houses, beer in flaggons;
Drums and trumpets, singing, firing;
Girls seducing, beaux admiring;
Country lasses gay and smiling,
City lads their hearts beguiling;
Dusty roads, and horses frisky;
Many an Eton boy in whisky;
Tax'd carts full of farmers' daughters;
Brutes condemn'd, and man—who slaughters!
Public-houses, booths, and castles;
Belles of fashion, serving vassals;
Lordly Gen'rals fiercely staring,
Weary soldiers, sighing, swearing!
Petit maitres always dressing—
In the glass themselves caressing;
Perfum'd, painted, patch'd and blooming
Ladies—manly airs assuming!
Dowagers of fifty, simp'ring
Misses, for a lover whimp'ring—
Husbands drill'd to household tameness;
Dames heart sick of wedded sameness.
Princes setting girls a-madding—
Wives for ever fond of gadding—
Princesses with lovely faces,
Beauteous children of the Graces!
Britain's pride and Virtue's treasure,
Fair and gracious, beyond measure!
Aid de Camps, and youthful pages—
Prudes, and vestals of all ages!—
Old coquets, and matrons surly,
Sounds of distant hurly burly!
Mingled voices uncouth singing;
Carts, full laden, forage bringing;
Sociables, and horses weary;
Houses warm, and dresses airy;
Loads of fatten'd poultry; pleasure
Serv'd (TO NOBLES) without measure.
Doxies, who the waggons follow;
Beer, for thirsty hinds to swallow;
Washerwomen, fruit-girls cheerful,
ANTIENT LADIES—chaste and fearful!
Tradesmen, leaving shops, and seeming
More of war than profit dreaming;
Martial sounds, and braying asses;
Noise, that ev'ry noise surpasses!
All confusion, din, and riot—
NOTHING CLEAN—and NOTHING QUIET.





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