MR. O. HERFORD: Children, observe the Purple Cow, And, little ones, you need not hope To be, or see, lift up your voice my eyes to ope; On such a sight A tricksy sight. Still I must say MR. A. SWINBURNE: (Who was so enthused that he made a second attempt.) Only in dim, drowsy depths of a dream do I dare to delight in deliciously dreaming Cows there may be of a passionate purple,-cows of a violent violet hue; Ne'er have I seen such a sight, I am certain it is but a demi-delirious dreaming Ne'er may I happily harbour a hesitant hope in my heart that my dream may come true. Styx River Anthology 521 Sad is my soul, and my senses are sobbing so strong is my strenuous spirit to see one. Dolefully, drearily doomed to despair as warily wearily watching I wait; Thoughts thickly thronging are thrilling and throbbing; to see is a glorious gain-but to be one! That were a darker and direfuller destiny, that were a fearfuller, frightfuller fate! MR. R. KIPLING: In the old ten-acre pasture, But I am not going now, For I am not fond of purple, and No, I shall not go to-day, Where the Purple Cattle play. But I think I'd rather see one Than to be one, anyhow. Carolyn Wells. STYX RIVER ANTHOLOGY ALICE BEN BOLT I COULDN'T help weeping with delight When the boys kissed me and called me sweet. It was foolish, I know, To weep when I was glad; But I was young and I wasn't very well. I was nervous, weak, anemic, A sort of human mimosa; and I hadn't much brains, And my mind wouldn't jell, anyhow. That's why I trembled with fear when they frowned. But they didn't frown often, For I was sweetly pretty and most pliable. But, oh, the grim joke of asking Ben Bolt if he remembered me! Me! Why, it was Ben Bolt who Well, never mind. He paid for this granite slab, And it's as stylish as any in the church yard. But I wish I had a more becoming shroud. THE BLESSED DAMOZEL I was one of those long, lanky, loose-jointed girls Who fool people into believing They are willowy and psychic and mysterious. I was always hungry; I never ate enough to satisfy me, Oh, how little the world knows of the bitterness of life Many thought I died of a broken heart, But it was an empty stomach. Then Mr. Rossetti wrote about me. He described me all dolled up in some ladies' wearing apparel That I wore at a fancy ball. I had fasted all day, and had had my hair marcelled And my face corrected. And I was a dream. But he seemed to think he really saw me, Seemed to think I appeared to him after my death. Those spiritualists are always seeing things! ENOCH ARDEN Yes, it was the eternal triangle, Only they didn't call it that then. Of course everybody thought I was all broken up Styx River Anthology 523 When I found Annie wed to Philip, But, as a matter of fact, I didn't care so much; For she was one of those self-starting weepers, And a man can't stand blubbering all the time. And, then, of course, When I was off on that long sea trip Oh, well, you know what sailors are. LITTLE EVA To be honest, I didn't mind dying, For I had One of these here now Dressy deaths. It was staged, you know, And, like Samson, My death brought down the house. I was a smarty kid, And they were less frequent then than later. And I rest content With my notoriety. LUCY Yes, I am in my grave, And you bet it makes a difference to him! For we were to be married, at least, I think we were, And he'd made me promise to deed him the house. But I had to go and get appendicitis, And they took me to the hospital. It was a nice hospital, clean, And Tables Reserved For Ladies. Well, my heart gave out. He came and stood over my grave, And registered deep concern. And now, he's going round with that Hen-minded Hetty What's-her-name! Her with her Whistler's Mother and her Baby Stuart On her best-room wall! And I hate her, and I'm glad she squints. Well, I suppose I lived my life, But it was Life in name only. And I'm mad at the whole world! OPHELIA No, it wasn't suicide, But I had heard so much of those mud baths, Ugh! it was a mess! Weeds, slime, and tangled vines! Oh, me! Had I been Annette Kellerman Or even a real mermaid, I had lived to tell the tale. But I slid down and under, And so Will Shaxpur told it for me. Just as well. But I think my death scene is unexcelled By any in cold print. It beats that scrawny, red-headed old thing of Tom Hood's All hollow! CASABIANCA I played to the Grand Stand! Sure I did, And I made good. Ain't I in McGuffey's Third Reader? Don't they speak pieces about me Friday afternoons? Say, I was there with the goods, Wasn't I? And it paid. But I wish Movin' Pitchers had been invented then! |