Oh don't we live in curious times, You scarce could be believing, When Frenchmen fight and Emperors die, And ladies go a-thieving. A beauty of the West-end went, Around a shop she lingers, And there upon some handkerchiefs She clapped her pretty fingers. Into the shop she gently popped, The world is quite deceiving When ladies have a notion got To ramble out a-thieving. Thieving is a naughty trade As I unto you will state; If a poor man stole a penny loaf They'd send him off to Newgate. They would give him six months in jail 'Cause in roguery he was dealing, But here's a lady in a veil Who rambled out a-stealing. Her husband when he heard the news Received a regular twister, He vowed he'd bleed and jalap her And her pretty fingers blister, Because she did not steal for want Nor was she getting thinner, She had silks to wear and all things nice And did not want a dinner. Not very far from Baker Street This lady in her rigging Went out so grand, you understand, To have a turn at prigging, But lack-a-daisy she got caught, The shopman he did mark her, I say, says he, marm, if you please, Pray what have you been arter. You have been prigging, marm, says he, Your looks are quite deceiving, So help my bob you'll go to quod, For going out a-thieving, I would not believe that you could thieve, You've done it marm so clever, But you are caught as quick as thought, Oh dear did you ever. The draper bawled beneath her shawl What do you mean by this, then, And quickly she was in the hands Of a stunning great policeman, Who walked her off, so help my bob, She really was deceiving, And the magistrate sent her to quod For going out a-thieving. Now ladies all take my advice And you will always find it Honesty is the best policy, Pray ladies try to mind it, Don't covet other people's goods Or be the least deceiving, Do what is right, lead an honest life, And don't go out a-thieving. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...DAYBREAK by WILLIAM CARLOS WILLIAMS TO THE EVENING STAR by WILLIAM BLAKE REAR-PORCHES OF AN APARTMENT-BUILDING by MAXWELL BODENHEIM A VAGABOND SONG by BLISS CARMAN THE AIM WAS SONG by ROBERT FROST THE OLD CLOCK ON THE STAIRS by HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW |