Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, TO LALAGE (ON HER RESIGNATION AS FILE CLERK), by RHEINHART KLEINER


Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

TO LALAGE (ON HER RESIGNATION AS FILE CLERK), by                    
First Line: Sweet mistress of the cabinets
Last Line: Was more than you could do!
Subject(s): Retirement; Secretaries; Women


Sweet mistress of the cabinets,
Our lady of the files,
What tender pangs and soft regrets
Were masked beneath our smiles,

When you who guarded all our store
Of circular and writ --
Our carbons charged with selling lore --
Announced your plan to quit!

What matter if the sheets you placed
So prettily among
Your folders, could no more be traced?
For you were very young!

Who frowned if from your utmost ken,
As from your strictest care,
Our papers vanished yet again?
For you were very fair!

We bought you candy once a week,
And gum for every day;
Your grateful look and blushing cheek
Were held sufficient pay.

You left us on a night in June;
Our desk lamps glimmered pale;
Our Burroughs clicked a little rune
That mortal loves are frail.

All thoughts, all passions, all delights,
Obeyed a word from you;
But put our precious file to rights
Was more than you could do!





Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!


Other Poems of Interest...
Home: PoetryExplorer.net