'PLAINTS about postal packets, gone Strangely astray In northern town: And so I am sent down, At once to make essay At solving minor mystery. Immediately I come to trace Each loss to self-same place— A certain shop. And one Which, though it sell Stationery, deals as well In silver articles and things innumerable Which women love to see sparkling on toilet-table. It is, too, in its own small way, A Post Office. But I reflect That postmen, who project And plot and plan malpractice, Are very rarely seen to steal Stuff which they deal With, personally: They avoid, religiously, What they collect each day. Therefore I dream Out careful, concrete scheme, Write letter, which I ask sales-girl to pack With pretty, purchased brush of well-wrought, silvern back. This I address, and openly take To office grille, Where it is weighed Forthwith, accepted, laid Aside. The sales-girl still Keeps her wide, bluebell eyes on me Unceasingly. Not as one bold, But curious. Copper and gold Her glistening hair. I make My sauntering way To the Head Office. Stay Till there comes in the just-made town-collection, Which is examined closely, under my direction. No trace, no sign of packet. I Take action. Thus, With plain-clothes man, (A trusty veteran From London) go discuss Affairs at shop. Find pained surprise In bluebell eyes, Which, injured, stare Neath gold and copper hair. I next, remorselessly Brutal, presume To search her home and room ... Find brush, find fifty stolen trinkets; while, forlorn, She looks at me, reproachful, like some hunted fawn. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...TO A DEAD LOVER by LOUISE BOGAN CAVE PAINTING by HAYDEN CARRUTH THE BIRDS DO THUS by ROBERT FROST LINES ON CARMEN SYLVA by EMMA LAZARUS SURFACES AND MASKS; 1 by CLARENCE MAJOR DOMESDAY BOOK: GEORGE JOSLIN ON LA MENKEN by EDGAR LEE MASTERS SPOON RIVER ANTHOLOGY: OAKS TUTT by EDGAR LEE MASTERS BUCOLIC COMEDY: KING COPHETUA AND THE BEGGAR MAID by EDITH SITWELL |