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A poem by John Kendall |
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A Ballad Of Buttonry |
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Title: A Ballad Of Buttonry Author: John Kendall [More Titles by Kendall] Clothes and the Man I sing. Reformers, note He was what veterans miscall, for short, The Coat an item of the 'sealed' attire Also the tails were long; and, for the pride Majestic orbs, whose gilded obverse bore The youth, ere sailing for a distant land, [Footnote 2: A last-joined young officer.--Military Definitions.] To join a 'Course,' where men of grave repute Thither he sped, and on the opening day (Ample of flowing skirt, and with great craft Won to the mess, and preened his fledgling plumes Awhile he moved in rapture, and awhile To that stern joy which youthful warriors feel Then came the seneschal upon the scenes, For out, alack! the Fathers of the mess Being by sad experience led to find Which tore and scratched the leather-cushioned chairs, It was a crushing blow. That Subaltern Removed his Coat, and laid it, weeping, in Buried it deep, and drew it thence no more; * * * * * So runs the tale. I had it from the youth (The words alone are mine; I need but hint And as in India, though the chairs are hard, Being designed for cooler zones, and not And, furthermore, as bold Sir Fashion brings He questions if the Coat were worth the price, [The end] GO TO TOP OF SCREEN |