Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE FAT LITTLE PURSE, by CHRISTOPHER DARLINGTON MORLEY Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: On saturdays, after the baby Last Line: In her little, fat little purse. Alternate Author Name(s): Hall, Galway Subject(s): Shopping | ||||||||
ON Saturdays, after the baby Is bathed, fed, and sleeping serene, His mother, as quickly as may be, Arranges the household routine. She rapidly makes herself pretty And leaves the young limb with his nurse, Then gaily she starts for the city, And with her the fat little purse. She trips through the crowd at the station, To the rendezvous spot where we meet, And keeping her eyes from temptation, She avoids the most windowy street! She is off for the Weekly Adventure; To her comrade for better and worse She says, "never mind, when you've spent your Last bit, here's the fat little purse." Apart, in her thrifty exchequer, She has hidden what must not be spent: Enough for the butcher and baker, Katie's wages, and milkman, and rent; But the rest of her brave little treasure She is gleeful and prompt to disburse -- What a richness of innocent pleasure Can come from her fat little purse! But either by giving or buying, The little purse does not stay fat -- Perhaps it's a ragged child crying, Perhaps it's a "pert little hat." And the bonny brown eyes that were brightened By pleasures so quaint and diverse, Look up at me, wistful and frightened, To see such a thin little purse. The wisest of all financiering Is that which is done by our wives: By some little known profiteering They add twos and twos and make fives; And, husband, if you would be learning The secret of thrift, it is terse: Invest the great part of your earning In her little, fat little purse. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...SNAP CHAT: MARRAKECH by TIMOTHY LIU CHINATOWN BLUES by CLARENCE MAJOR ALIEN WOMEN; SONGKHLA, THAILAND by KAREN SWENSON THE MAN WITHOUT LEATHER BREECHES by JAMES TATE AUNT MADELYN AT THE WHITE SALE by ALICE FULTON A SUPERMARKET IN CALIFORNIA by ALLEN GINSBERG ANIMAL CRACKERS by CHRISTOPHER DARLINGTON MORLEY |
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