A GENTLEMAN I chance to know An interesting thing of Is victim of my verse, and so That thing I seek to sing of. (You surely will not censure me For putting into poetree An incident About the gent- Leman I seek to sing of.) He was a gentleman in trade— The firm was Smith & Brother. They traffick-ed in lace and braid, Or some such thing or other. I am not certain if they sold Cigars, or apple cake, or gold. Pray let it stand At laces, and Some such affair or other. "Observe a thousand girls make lace!" Cried Smith, in exultation. I saw them working in a place Devoid of ventilation. They seemed aweary, wan, and ill, As merely human beings will Appear who work In sunless murk Devoid of ventilation. I saw Smith yesterday, again, Acerb, irate, indignant. "I hate," he said, "those Prussian men, With utter hate malignant. To think of using poisonous gas To kill an enemy! Alas! I cannot see How such men be!" And, my! he was malignant! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...BENEDICTION by GEORGIA DOUGLAS JOHNSON BUT NOW by GEORGIA DOUGLAS JOHNSON GIANT RED WOMAN by CLARENCE MAJOR CHARLOTTE CORDAY (REVOLUTIONARY TRIBUNAL, JULY 17, 1793) by EDGAR LEE MASTERS DOMESDAY BOOK: GEORGE JOSLIN ON LA MENKEN by EDGAR LEE MASTERS |