Classic and Contemporary PoetryRhyming Dictionary Search
I AM FASHION'S TOY, by MARY TUCKER LAMBERT Poet's Biography First Line: Oh! Give to me of the bright green leaves Last Line: Now, the dream is past. I am fashion's toy. Alternate Author Name(s): Tucker, Mary Eliza Perine Subject(s): Fashion; Grass | ||||||||
LINES WRITTEN UPON SEEING A FASHIONABLY -DRESSED LADY ASK A SERVANT FOR A FEW BLADES OF GRASS, WHICH SHE PLACED UPON HER BOSOM. OH! give to me of the bright green leaves, For they tell me of the past; When I roved at will mid the golden sheaves -- And my heart it wildly, madly grieves, And it throbs so painfully fast, As I think of the days of peace and joy That forever are gone -- I am fashion's toy. Yes, the modeste decks my raven hair, In many a shape and coil -- And she dyes my cheek with the carmine rare, And she makes my brow as the lily fair, And they tell me, for beauty I can compare With the daughters of eastern soil; Yet, I sigh when I smile in my empty joy, For I know, alas! I am fashion's toy. My form is stately, and full of pride -- And the high of the land linger near my side, Yet as they fawning bow, My heart flows back on sweet memory's tide, And I forget they are near my side, And the past seems to me now. Then I dream of the sweets that could not cloy, For a moment forget, I am fashion's toy. Yes, this grass reminds me of long past hours, When in the woodland glen I revelled 'mid song and birds and flowers, And formed, with the evergreen, fairy bowers. Ah! I was not lonely then; For he was with me, my pride, my joy -- He is dead to me now, I am fashion's toy. Ah! the hearts and the diamonds that lie at my feet -- Hearts are all hollow, and diamonds a cheat, Yet I cannot cast them away; I need much wealth for my life of deceit -- Yes, I need it every day. I must give to the poor, for that bliss doesn't cloy; 'Tis my only relief -- I am fashion's toy. And is there no end to this empty life; To this life of lip-smiles and a soul at strife? Must it ever, ever last? Shah I look through the vista dim of years, And see there naught but grief, sin, and tears? Ah! these blades of grass for a moment brief, O'erflood my soul with a sweet relief, And I live in the happy past. In my dreams, I again am a maiden coy, And I live o'er my life of love and joy -- Now, the dream is past. I am fashion's toy. | Other Poems of Interest...A PORTRAIT OF MY ROOF by JAMES GALVIN HIGH PLAINS RAG by JAMES GALVIN I FIX MY EYES ON A BLADE OF GRASS by DAVID IGNATOW METAPHOR OF GRASS IN CALIFORNIA by CHARLES MARTIN THE LAST DAY OF AUGUST by NAOMI SHIHAB NYE CUT THE GRASS by ARCHIE RANDOLPH AMMONS |
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