Читать книгу A Parody Anthology - Wells Carolyn - Страница 8

GATHER Kittens while you may,

Time brings only Sorrow;

And the Kittens of To-day

Will be Old Cats To-morrow.

WHEN like a bud my Julia blows

In lattice-work of silken hose,

Pleasant I deem it is to note

How, 'neath the nimble petticoat,

Above her fairy shoe is set

The circumvolving zonulet.

And soothly for the lover's ear

A perfect bliss it is to hear

About her limb so lithe and lank

My Julia's ankle-bangle clank.

Not rudely tight, for 'twere a sin

To corrugate her dainty skin;

Nor yet so large that it might fare

Over her foot at unaware;

But fashioned nicely with a view

To let her airy stocking through:

So as, when Julia goes to bed,

Of all her gear disburdenèd,

This ring at least she shall not doff

Because she cannot take it off.

And since thereof I hold the key,

She may not taste of liberty,

Not though she suffer from the gout,

Unless I choose to let her out.