Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE HIGH-BACKED CHAIR, by T. P. SANBORN


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE HIGH-BACKED CHAIR, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Look at it carefully, jim, old man!
Last Line: On some girl or other, when no one's by.
Alternate Author Name(s): Sanborn, Thomas Parker
Subject(s): Chairs


I.

LOOK at it carefully, Jim, old man!
Quaint old specimen, don't you think?
Praise its shape, if you really can, --
It has a history! (Take a drink.)
Grandmother's mother sat in it first,
Sweeter bride there never was seen:
There in the picture her lips seem athirst
For kisses; she had them full oft, I ween.

II.

Grandmamma sat in it on the day
That she was married; they put a crown
Of roses upon her; the gossips say
Her beauty made her the talk of the town.
And in her parlor she placed it, where
It shone resplendent for many years;
Till fashions changed, and the quaint old chair
Met with mocking, and suffered sneers.

III.

They carried it up and they stored it away
Under the eaves in the garret bare;
And rummaging round mid the books one day,
I found and seized it, -- the high-backed chair.
I've taken it here to my college room,
I've placed it primly against the wall;
I sit and muse in the twilight gloom
On the brides who have graced it, -- lovely and tall.

ENVOY.

And, Jim, dear boy, I think there's a spell
That resides in that chair, which I mean to try
Next Class-day evening on Mar -- Oh, well,
On some girl or other, when no one's by.





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