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Classic and Contemporary Poetry
ON AN OLD MUFF, by FREDERICK LOCKER-LAMPSON Poet's Biography First Line: Time has a magic wand Last Line: Hard in my garden. Alternate Author Name(s): Locker, Frederick Subject(s): Gloves; Women; Mittens; Muffs | |||
TIME has a magic wand! What is this meets my hand, Moth-eaten, mouldy, and Covered with fluff, Faded and stiff and scant? Can it be? no, it can't, -- Yes, -- I declare 't is Aunt Prudence's Muff! Years ago -- twenty-three! Old Uncle Barnaby Gave it to Aunty P., Laughing and teasing, -- "Pru. of the breezy curls, Whisper these solemn churls, What holds a pretty girl's Hand without squeezing?" Uncle was then a lad, Gay, but, I grieve to add, Gone to what's called "the bad," -- Smoking, -- and worse! Sleek sable then was this Muff, lined with pinkiness, -- Bloom to which beauty is Seldom averse. I see in retrospect Aunt, in her best bedecked, Gliding, with mien erect, Gravely to meeting: Psalm-book, and kerchief new, Peeped from the Muff of Pru., Young men -- and pious, too -- Giving her greeting. Pure was the life she led Then: from her Muff, 't is said, Tracts she distributed; -- Scapegraces many, Seeing the grace they lacked, Followed her; one attacked Prudence, and got his tract, Oftener than any! Love has a potent spell! Soon this bold ne'er-do-well, Aunt's sweet susceptible Heart undermining, Slipped, so the scandal runs, Notes in the pretty nun's Muff, -- triple-cornered ones, -- Pink as its lining! Worse, even, soon the jade Fled (to oblige her blade!) Whilst her friends thought that they'd Locked her up tightly: After such shocking games, Aunt is of wedded dames Gayest, -- and now her name's Mrs. Golightly. In female conduct flaw Sadder I never saw, Still I've faith in the law Of compensation. Once uncle went astray, -- Smoked, joked, and swore away; Sworn by he's now, by a Large congregation! Changed is the child of sin; Now he's (he once was thin) Grave, with a double chin, -- Blest be his fat form! Changed is the garb he wore: Preacher was never more Prized than is uncle for Pulpit or platform. If all's as best befits Mortals of slender wits, Then beg this Muff, and its Fair owner pardon; All's for the best, -- indeed, Such is my simple creed; Still I must go and weed Hard in my garden. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE MITTEN SONG by MARIE LOUISE ALLEN IN FREIBURG STATION by RUPERT BROOKE THE ROMANCE OF A GLOVE by HENRY SAVILE CLARKE DI'S MITTEN by WILLIAM CLYDE FITCH ELINDA'S GLOVE by RICHARD LOVELACE AN EMPTY GLOVE by JAMES WHITCOMB RILEY A NICE CORRESPONDENT by FREDERICK LOCKER-LAMPSON |
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