Читать книгу Second Book of Verse - Field Eugene - Страница 15

THERE are happenings in life that are destined to rise

Like dear, hallowed visions before a man's eyes;

And the passage of years shall not dim in the least

The glory and joy of our Sabbath-day feast, —

The Sabbath-day luncheon that's spread for us three, —

My worthy companions, Teresa and Leigh,

And me, all so hungry for crumpets and tea.

There are cynics who say with invidious zest

That a crumpet's a thing that will never digest;

But I happen to know that a crumpet is prime

For digestion, if only you give it its time.

Or if, by a chance, it should not quite agree,

Why, who would begrudge a physician his fee

For plying his trade upon crumpets and tea?

To toast crumpets quite à la mode, I require

A proper long fork and a proper quick fire;

And when they are browned, without further ado,

I put on the butter, that soaks through and through.

And meantime Teresa, directed by Leigh,

Compounds and pours out a rich brew for us three;

And so we sit down to our crumpets – and tea.

A hand-organ grinds in the street a weird bit, —

Confound those Italians! I wish they would quit

Interrupting our feast with their dolorous airs,

Suggestive of climbing the heavenly stairs.

(It's thoughts of the future, as all will agree,

That we fain would dismiss from our bosoms when we

Sit down to discussion of crumpets and tea!)

The Sabbath-day luncheon whereof I now speak

Quite answers its purpose the rest of the week;

Yet with the next Sabbath I wait for the bell

Announcing the man who has crumpets to sell;

Then I scuttle downstairs in a frenzy of glee,

And purchase for sixpence enough for us three,

Who hunger and hanker for crumpets and tea.

But soon – ah! too soon – I must bid a farewell

To joys that succeed to the sound of that bell,

Must hie me away from the dank, foggy shore

That's filled me with colic and – yearnings for more!

Then the cruel, the heartless, the conscienceless sea

Shall bear me afar from Teresa and Leigh

And the other twin friendships of crumpets and tea.

Yet often, ay, ever, before my wan eyes

That Sabbath-day luncheon of old shall arise.

My stomach, perhaps, shall improve by the change,

Since crumpets it seems to prefer at long range;

But, oh, how my palate will hanker to be

In London again with Teresa and Leigh,

Enjoying the rapture of crumpets and tea!