GAS-LIGHT HEROICS

GAS-LIGHT HEROICS

With this night’s carousalWe will close the portalOn our poor espousal—Sacrament and houselFor a love too mortal!With this gay delayingWe’ll delay yet longer—Care not what the sayingOf the World—that brayingEvil tattle-monger!Pleasure has as thunderScorched and jangled thru me;Now I’ll sit and wonderAt the day-star yonderAnd your face, grown gloomy.You are known as “Lily”And they mock your gender;Is it but a sillyFancy, you seem stillyLily-souled and tender?Underneath the bitterMockery of color,Underneath the titterIs there something fitter?Something finer, fuller?Something (can I hear itIn your secret eyes?)When I come too near itLike a frightened spiritRunning from the skies?Girl, you know that glow meantDawn’s thin lips of scarlet—Bubble of life’s fomentStay your soul a moment!. . . . . .Bah! You’re drunk, you harlot!

With this night’s carousalWe will close the portalOn our poor espousal—Sacrament and houselFor a love too mortal!With this gay delayingWe’ll delay yet longer—Care not what the sayingOf the World—that brayingEvil tattle-monger!Pleasure has as thunderScorched and jangled thru me;Now I’ll sit and wonderAt the day-star yonderAnd your face, grown gloomy.You are known as “Lily”And they mock your gender;Is it but a sillyFancy, you seem stillyLily-souled and tender?Underneath the bitterMockery of color,Underneath the titterIs there something fitter?Something finer, fuller?Something (can I hear itIn your secret eyes?)When I come too near itLike a frightened spiritRunning from the skies?Girl, you know that glow meantDawn’s thin lips of scarlet—Bubble of life’s fomentStay your soul a moment!. . . . . .Bah! You’re drunk, you harlot!

With this night’s carousalWe will close the portalOn our poor espousal—Sacrament and houselFor a love too mortal!

With this night’s carousal

We will close the portal

On our poor espousal—

Sacrament and housel

For a love too mortal!

With this gay delayingWe’ll delay yet longer—Care not what the sayingOf the World—that brayingEvil tattle-monger!

With this gay delaying

We’ll delay yet longer—

Care not what the saying

Of the World—that braying

Evil tattle-monger!

Pleasure has as thunderScorched and jangled thru me;Now I’ll sit and wonderAt the day-star yonderAnd your face, grown gloomy.

Pleasure has as thunder

Scorched and jangled thru me;

Now I’ll sit and wonder

At the day-star yonder

And your face, grown gloomy.

You are known as “Lily”And they mock your gender;Is it but a sillyFancy, you seem stillyLily-souled and tender?

You are known as “Lily”

And they mock your gender;

Is it but a silly

Fancy, you seem stilly

Lily-souled and tender?

Underneath the bitterMockery of color,Underneath the titterIs there something fitter?Something finer, fuller?

Underneath the bitter

Mockery of color,

Underneath the titter

Is there something fitter?

Something finer, fuller?

Something (can I hear itIn your secret eyes?)When I come too near itLike a frightened spiritRunning from the skies?

Something (can I hear it

In your secret eyes?)

When I come too near it

Like a frightened spirit

Running from the skies?

Girl, you know that glow meantDawn’s thin lips of scarlet—Bubble of life’s fomentStay your soul a moment!

Girl, you know that glow meant

Dawn’s thin lips of scarlet—

Bubble of life’s foment

Stay your soul a moment!

. . . . . .

. . . . . .

Bah! You’re drunk, you harlot!

Bah! You’re drunk, you harlot!


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