Poetry Explorer


Classic and Contemporary Poetry


MISAPPLIED by AMOS RUSSEL WELLS

First Line: FIE! WHAT A SINFUL WASTE IT IS TO USE
Last Line: WE NEED FINE PAPER FOR RACINE AND POE!
Subject(s): BOOKS; READING;

Fie! what a sinful waste it is to use
Fine calf-skin or morocco -- making shoes!
Be it the daintiest foot-gear of them all,
That Flora twinkles gayly at the ball,
'Twere far more finely, fittingly applied
To bind my Hazlitt, Keats, or Akenside.

And what a shame that gold, fair gilding gold,
As sordid, silly coin should be told!
For greasy greenbacks would as well suffice
To glut the miser or to pay the price,
While gold for this was evidently made --
To letter and embellish Pope and Praed.

And further: 'tis a sin, and nothing less,
To squander flax upon a woman's dress.
Aye, though a maiden flash upon my sight
Her snowy form with snowy linen dight,
Swift to the mill that fabric fair should go;
We need fine paper for Racine and Poe!



Home: PoetryExplorer.net