Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, I AM FASHION'S TOY, by MARY TUCKER LAMBERT


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

I AM FASHION'S TOY, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Oh! Give to me of the bright green leaves
Last Line: Now, the dream is past. I am fashion's toy.
Alternate Author Name(s): Tucker, Mary Eliza Perine
Subject(s): Fashion; Grass


LINES WRITTEN UPON SEEING A FASHIONABLY
-DRESSED LADY ASK A SERVANT FOR A FEW
BLADES OF GRASS, WHICH SHE PLACED
UPON HER BOSOM.

OH! give to me of the bright green leaves,
For they tell me of the past;
When I roved at will mid the golden sheaves --
And my heart it wildly, madly grieves,
And it throbs so painfully fast,
As I think of the days of peace and joy
That forever are gone -- I am fashion's toy.

Yes, the modeste decks my raven hair,
In many a shape and coil --
And she dyes my cheek with the carmine rare,
And she makes my brow as the lily fair,
And they tell me, for beauty I can compare
With the daughters of eastern soil;
Yet, I sigh when I smile in my empty joy,
For I know, alas! I am fashion's toy.

My form is stately, and full of pride --
And the high of the land linger near my side,
Yet as they fawning bow,
My heart flows back on sweet memory's tide,
And I forget they are near my side,
And the past seems to me now.
Then I dream of the sweets that could not cloy,
For a moment forget, I am fashion's toy.

Yes, this grass reminds me of long past hours,
When in the woodland glen
I revelled 'mid song and birds and flowers,
And formed, with the evergreen, fairy bowers.
Ah! I was not lonely then;
For he was with me, my pride, my joy --
He is dead to me now, I am fashion's toy.

Ah! the hearts and the diamonds that lie at my feet --
Hearts are all hollow, and diamonds a cheat,
Yet I cannot cast them away;
I need much wealth for my life of deceit --
Yes, I need it every day.
I must give to the poor, for that bliss doesn't cloy;
'Tis my only relief -- I am fashion's toy.

And is there no end to this empty life;
To this life of lip-smiles and a soul at strife?
Must it ever, ever last?
Shah I look through the vista dim of years,
And see there naught but grief, sin, and tears?
Ah! these blades of grass for a moment brief,
O'erflood my soul with a sweet relief,
And I live in the happy past.
In my dreams, I again am a maiden coy,
And I live o'er my life of love and joy --
Now, the dream is past. I am fashion's toy.





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