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Classic and Contemporary Poetry
SAINT MAY: A CITY LYRIC, by JOSEPH ASHBY-STERRY Poet's Biography First Line: St. Aloys the great is both mouldy and grim Last Line: Oh, where is a saint like my charming st. May? Subject(s): Saints | |||
ST. ALOYS THE GREAT is both mouldy and grim, Not knowing the road there, you'll long have to search To find your way into this old city church; Yet on fine Sunday mornings I frequently stray There to see a new saint, whom I've christened St. May. Of saints I've seen plenty in churches before In Florence or Venice they're there by the score; Agnese, Mariathe rest I forget By Titian, Bassano, and brave Tintoret: They none can compare, though they're well in their way, In maidenly grace with my dainty St. May. She's young for a saint, for she's scarcely eighteen, And ne'er could wear peas in those dainty bottines; Her locks are not shaven, and 'twould be a sin To wear a hair-shirt next that delicate skin; Save diagonal stripes on a dress of light gray, Stripes ne'er have been borne by bewitching St. May. Then she's almost too plump and too round for a saint, With sweet little dimples that Millais might paint; She has no mediæval nor mortified mien, No wimple of yellow, nor background of green, A nimbus of hair throws its sunshiny ray Of glory around the fair face of St. May. What surquayne or partlet could look better than My saint's curly jacket of black Astracan? What coif than her bonneta triumph of skill Or alb than her petticoat edged with a frill? So sober, yet smilingso grave, yet so gay, Oh, where is a saint like my charming St. May? | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...ST. AGNES' EVE by KENNETH FEARING THINKING ABOUT PAUL CELAN by DENISE LEVERTOV THE TEMPTATIONS OF SAINT ANTHONY by PHYLLIS MCGINLEY EL SANTO NINO DE ATOCHA by PAT MORA LA SAGRADA FAMILIA by PAT MORA |
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