One studies to decipher ancient lore Which, proving stuff, he studies all the more; Another swears that learning is but good To darken things already understood, Then writes upon Simplicity so well That none agree on what he wants to tell, And future ages will declare his pen Inspired by gods with messages to men. To found an ancient order those devote Their time—with ritual, regalia, goat, Blankets for tossing, chairs of little ease And all the modern inconveniences; These, saner, frown upon unmeaning rites And go to church for rational delights. So all are suited, shallow and profound, The prophets prosper and the world goes round. For me—unread in the occult, I'm fain To damn all mysteries alike as vain, Spurn the obscure and base my faith upon The Revelations of the good St. John.1897.
NANINE.
We heard a song-bird trilling— 'T was but a night ago. Such rapture he was rilling As only we could know. This morning he is flinging His music from the tree, But something in the singing Is not the same to me. His inspiration fails him, Or he has lost his skill. Nanine, Nanine, what ails him That he should sing so ill? Nanine is not replying— She hears no earthly song. The sun and bird are lying And the night is, O, so long!
TECHNOLOGY.
'Twas a serious person with locks of gray And a figure like a crescent; His gravity, clearly, had come to stay, But his smile was evanescent. He stood and conversed with a neighbor, and With (likewise) a high falsetto; And he stabbed his forefinger into his hand As if it had been a stiletto. His words, like the notes of a tenor drum, Came out of his head unblended, And the wonderful altitude of some Was exceptionally splendid. While executing a shake of the head, With the hand, as it were, of a master, This agonizing old gentleman said: ''Twas a truly sad disaster! 'Four hundred and ten longs and shorts in all, Went down'—he paused and snuffled. A single tear was observed to fall, And the old man's drum was muffled. 'A very calamitous year,' he said. And again his head-piece hoary He shook, and another pearl he shed, As if he wept con amore. 'O lacrymose person,' I cried, 'pray why Should these failures so affect you? With speculators in stocks no eye That's normal would ever connect you.' He focused his orbs upon mine and smiled In a sinister sort of manner. 'Young man,' he said, 'your words are wild: I spoke of the steamship 'Hanner.' 'For she has went down in a howlin' squall, And my heart is nigh to breakin'— Four hundred and ten longs and shorts in all Will never need undertakin'! 'I'm in the business myself,' said he, 'And you've mistook my expression; For I uses the technical terms, you see, Employed in my perfession.' That old undertaker has joined the throng On the other side of the River, But I'm still unhappy to think I'm a 'long,' And a tape-line makes me shiver.
