Whim Alley once led into Danger Court Loud with the raucous talk of cockatoos, Where bearded Jews a-squat in alcove shops Sat waiting like royal falcons in a mews. Softly as rain the voweled Portuguese Fell from their red-ripe lips with eastern news Of galleons whose names were melodies -- Softly -- between the shrieks of cockatoos. Who cared for royal navigation laws In Danger Court -- for what the Soldan said -- Or papal lines between the east and west? Abram out-Shylocked Isaac with applause, And clutched the sweated doubloons to his chest, Whose late lamented owners were scarce dead. For there were smugglers' bargains to be made Where leaping arches looped along the walls, While sunlight smouldered down the long arcade And dizened into flame on Spanish shawls. And what the sequin brought in Louis d'or Was news, -- and rumors passed from Trebizond, While Rachel clinked brass anklets in a door With a straight glimpse of blue sea just beyond. Dark sailors passed with tang of wine and tar, And merchants with wide hats and wider fringes, And two black Sambos smoked the same cigar Upon a chest with three locks and five hinges. Vanished in air! Those arches roof a cow, To parrots' rings the frowsy hens resort; Whim Alley leads to less than nothing now, For only shadows dwell in Danger Court. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...VLAMERTINGHE: PASSING THE CHATEAU, JULY 1917 by EDMUND CHARLES BLUNDEN EPITAPHS OF THE WAR, 1914-18: COMMON FORM by RUDYARD KIPLING ON A CERTAIN LADY AT COURT by ALEXANDER POPE WOMAN'S WILL by JOHN GODFREY SAXE THE SHEPHEARDES CALENDER: DEDICATORY SONNET by EDMUND SPENSER IN MEMORIAM A.H.H.: 9 by ALFRED TENNYSON |