Page 58 - Poetry-Romance

The Perils of a Poet

Lorinda was a poet born,
And at the age of twenty,
With life and fame in peachy bloom,
Of lovers she had plenty.

It happened just about this time
Appeared her masterpieces;
Soon after which, lo! one by one,
Her lovers’ list decreases.

“What does it mean,” Lorinda thinks,
“That lovers thus forsake me?
With doubled fame, I am as fair
As Nature well can make me.

“Yet Paul Divine glanced right away,
When at him I was gazing,
Indifferent, proud, when once his look
Set both my cheeks ablazing.

“And Gabriel withdrew his hand
As mine went forth to meet it;
When only just a week ago
He would have knelt to greet it.”

Ah! ah! the light is breaking in:
The maid at last discovers
That verse which has attracted fame
Has been repelling lovers.

Let me not quote the poems now,
But only give their titles:
Their face, I’m very sure, will be
The index of their vitals!

“While glows my eye, my heart is dead”
That one came out on Monday;
And though the tides of love had run
As high as those of Fundy,

~ 56 ~