He's the man from Eldorado, and he gives a grand affair; There's feasting, dancing, wine without restraint. The smooth Beau Brummels of the bar, the faro men, are there; The tinhorns and purveyors of red paint; The sleek and painted women, their predacious eyes aglow -- Sure Klondike City never saw the like; Then Muckluck Mag proposed the toast, "The giver of the show, The livest sport that ever hit the pike." The "live one" rises to his feet; he stammers to reply -- And then there comes before his muddled brain A vision of green vastitudes beneath an April sky, And clover pastures drenched with silver rain. He knows that it can never be, that he is down and out; Life leers at him with foul and fetid breath; And then amid the revelry, the song and cheer and shout, He suddenly grows grim and cold as death. He grips the table tensely, and he says: "Dear friends of mine, I've let you dip your fingers in my purse; I've crammed you at my table, and I've drowned you in my wine, ANd I've little left to give you but -- my curse. I've failed supremely in my plans; it's rather late to whine; My poke is mighty weasened up and small. I thank you each for coming here; the happiness is mine -- And now, you thieves and harlots, take it all." | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...SONG OF KAREN, THE DANCING CHILD by KATHERINE MANSFIELD RIDDLE ON THE LETTER H (1) by CATHERINE MARIA FANSHAWE A SHORT SONG OF CONGRATULATION by SAMUEL JOHNSON (1709-1784) THE MALDIVE SHARK by HERMAN MELVILLE THE NYMPH'S REPLY TO THE SHEPHERD by WALTER RALEIGH FANCY, FR. THE MERCHANT OF VENICE by WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE IDYLLS OF THE KING: BALIN AND BALAN by ALFRED TENNYSON |