I In the cold morning the rested street stands up To greet the clerk who saunters down the world. In the smoke mist, in the five-pound coffee-cup, Thin gorgeous ladies promenade, ungirled. Hang out your heads, O small unthirsted crowd! The band is passing, blaring to the mighty -- Down from the skyscraper flutters death's shroud Draping the shoulder of a wrinkled Aphrodite. . . . Well, Jenny, yes -- you're right, now let's walk home. Could these bells ringing now be wedding-bells, When we get married I'll buy you a pearl side-comb -- It's a mean world, with shivers and racks and spells . . . In the cold morning, while the unsure razor sings, I have seen ledgers and lights and folded wings. II THE DATE Come to me, Jenny, let's dance a bit tonight, The long small tremor's at my back again; Distend your fingers to the sleepy light, Hide your pink knees from the gaze of other men. You must be pure -- go slow with that home-brew, Yet sometimes, like tonight, you @3will@1 be gay, And then I can't, for the artistic cheeks of you, Drown this unholy vision of your clay. Wind up the vic, life one heel from the floor, Cushion one breast against a lonely heart, For I, with prophetic deftness, closed the door. There will be music jazzing as we start -- And after that, when wax eyes fix on waste, There will be staring and drinks without taste. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...I LOVE ALL BEAUTEOUS THINGS by ROBERT SEYMOUR BRIDGES SUMTER by HENRY HOWARD BROWNELL TO THE UNKNOWN EROS: BOOK 1: 12. MAGNA EST VERITAS by COVENTRY KERSEY DIGHTON PATMORE THE MOTHER by ROBERT WILLIAM SERVICE WIFE, CHILDREN AND FRIENDS by WILLIAM ROBERT SPENCER |