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Classic and Contemporary Poetry
A FAN PAINTED BY WATTEAU, by B. B. W.
First Line: Old ivory and yellow lace
Last Line: The courtly world of old watteau.
Subject(s): Memory
First Line: Old ivory and yellow lace
Last Line: The courtly world of old watteau.
Subject(s): Memory
OLD ivory and yellow lace;
A landscape flushed with early day,
Aurora's rouged and roguish face
Reflected in the beryl bay
Mid waves that blandly bow away,
Green-liveried, bewigged with snow, --
We hold within a fan's display
The courtly world of old Watteau.
With amorous and tender grace
The Triton pipes a virelay,
The argent-breasted nymph we trace
Through flying folds that stream astray
As slyly trained to half betray, --
The ribboned flock before her go;
The beach is oft a pasture-way
In courtly world of old Watteau.
Oh, homely world whereon we pace,
Where love scarce rhymes a roundelay,
Where robes conceal, and men are base,
And evening skies absurdly gay,
And crudely green, as sighs Boucher,
Devoid of art the grasses grow, --
Roll back, and bring within to-day
The courtly world of old Watteau!
ENVOY.
And, loveliest, thou month of May,
E'en thou, supreme, wouldst fail to show
From willow veil and hawthorn spray
The courtly world of old Watteau.
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