Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE PRESENTATION AT COURT, by FAIRFAX DOWNEY


Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE PRESENTATION AT COURT, by                    
First Line: The king asked / the queen, and
Last Line: "I do like a little bit of beauty in my debs!"
Subject(s): Courts & Courtiers; Royal Court Life; Royalty; Kings; Queens


The King asked
The Queen, and
The Queen asked
The Minister:
"Could we have some beauty in
The Royal batch of debs?"
The Queen asked
The Minister,
The Minister
Said, "Certainly.
I'll speak to the
Americans
Before the hour ebbs."

The Minister
He backed away,
And telephoned
The Ambassador:
"Don't forget the beauty in
The Royal debutantes."

The Ambassador
Said nervously:
"Diplomacy
Confines us to
The daughters of
Rich dowagers
And senators'
Great aunts."

The Minister
Said, "Blime!"
And went to
Her Majesty,
And being not a Laborite,
He nodded of his head.
"Referring to
Presenting of
American
Girls at Court --
Their heiresses are nice to meet
With millions
Thickly spread."

The Queen said,
"Sure."
And went to
His Majesty.
"Speaking of the beauty
In the Royal debutantes,
Foreign Office
Thinks that
Heiresses
Are nicer.
Would you like to meet a batch of
Heiresses,
By chance?"

The King swore,
"Drat it!"
And then he said,
"I don't see why
They save up all the peaches
To show to the Prince.
Nobody,"
He mumbled,
"Could call me a fussing man;
I only want
To see a few
That don't look like
A quince."

The Queen scolded,
"Here, here!"
But went to
The Minister.
The Minister
Said, "Hear, hear!"
And did a jig dance.
The Ambassador
Said, "Awkward, but
I've debbies on
The second list
Who are a Royal eyefull
And will rest the Royal glance."

The Queen met
The beauties.
The King said that
He was glad
He hadn't been entangled
In the
Diplomatic webs.
"Nobody," he said,
As he shook hands
Tenderly,
"Nobody," he said,
As he patted their
Bobbed heads,
"Nobody,
My darlings,
Could call me
A gadabout --

BUT

"I do like a little bit of beauty in my debs!"





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