TWO grave brown eyes, severely bent Upon a memorandum book -- A sparkling face, on which are blent A hopeful and a pensive look; A pencil, purse, and book of checks With stubs for varying amounts -- Elaine, the shrewdest of her sex, Is busy balancing accounts. Sedately, in the big armchair, She, all engrossed, the audit scans -- Her pencil hovers here and there The while she calculates and plans; What's this? A faintly pensive frown Upon her forehead gathers now -- Ah, does the butcher -- heartless clown -- Beget that shadow on her brow? A murrain on the tradesman churl Who caused this fair accountant's gloom! Just then -- a baby's cry -- my girl Arose and swiftly left the room. Then in her purse by stratagem I thrust some bills of small amounts -- She'll think she had forgotten them, And smile again at her accounts! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...ELEGY ON THYRZA by GEORGE GORDON BYRON DURING WIND AND RAIN by THOMAS HARDY THE HOUSE OF LIFE: 7. SUPREME SURRENDER by DANTE GABRIEL ROSSETTI OUR MODEST DOUGHBOYS by CHARLTON ANDREWS WATER WOMAN by JOSEPH AUSLANDER BALLADE OF MYSELF AND MONSIEUR RABELAIS by LEONARD BACON (1887-1954) WINTER IN IRELAND by CHARLES BEWLEY |