LORD HARRY has written a novel, A story of elegant life: No stuff about love in a hovel, No sketch of a commoner's wife: No trash, such as pathos and passion, Fire feelings, expression and wit: But all about people of fashion. Come look at his caps--how they fit! O Radcliffe! thou once wert the charmer Of girls who sat reading all night; Thy heroes were striplings in armour, Thy heroines damsels in white. But past are thy terrible touches, Our lips in derision we curl, Unless we are told how a Duchess Conversed with her cousin the Earl. We now have each dialogue quite full Of titles--'I give you my word, My lady, you're looking delightful.' 'O dear, do you think so, my lord!' 'You've heard of the marquis's marriage, The bride with her jewels new set, Four horses, new travelling carriage, And dejeuner a la fourchette.' Haut Ton finds her privacy broken, We trace all her ins and her outs; The very small talk that is spoken By very great people at routs. At Tenby Miss Jinks asks the loan of The book from the innkeeper's wife, And reads till she dreams she is one of The leaders of elegant life. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE RETIRED CAT by WILLIAM COWPER A SHROPSHIRE LAD: 4. REVEILLE by ALFRED EDWARD HOUSMAN TO A STEAM ROLLER by MARIANNE MOORE PROTHALAMION by EDMUND SPENSER THE DEATH OF THE OLD YEAR by ALFRED TENNYSON BURNING STRAWPILES by EVA K. ANGLESBURG THE EMIGRANT LASSIE by JOHN STUART BLACKIE |