Classic Poem

" Who are we waiting for? " " Soup burnt? " " ... Eight. "
" Only the tiniest party! — Us! "
" Darling! Divine! " " Ten minutes late — "
" And my digest — " " I'm ravenous! "
" " Toomes"? — Oh, he's new. " " Looks crazed, I guess! "
" " Married" — Again! " " Well; more or less! "

" Dinner is served! " " Dinner is served. "
" Is served? " " Is served. " " Ah, yes. "

" Dear Mr. Prout, will you take down
The Lilith in leaf-green by the fire?
Blanche Ogleton? ... " " How coy a frown!
Hasn't she borrowed Eve's attire? "
" Morose Old Adam! " " Charmed — I vow. "
" Come then, and meet her now. "

" Now, Dr. Mallus — would you please? —
Our daring poetess, Delia Seek? "
" The lady with the bony knees? "
" And — entre nous — less song than beak. "
" Sharing her past with Simple Si — "
" Bare facts! He'll blush! " " Oh, fie! "

" And you, Sir Nathan — false but fair! —
That fountain of wit, Aurora Pert. "
" More wit than It, poor dear! But there ... "
" Pitiless Pacha! And such a flirt! "
" " Flirt"! Me? " " Who else? " " You here. ... Who can ...? "
" Incorrigible man! "

" And now, Mr. Simon — little me! —
Last and — " " By no means least! " " Oh, come! —
What naughty, naughty flattery!
Honey! — I hear the creatures hum! "
" Sweets for the sweet, I always say! "
" " Always"? ... We're last. " " This way? " ...

" No, sir; straight on, please. " " I'd have vowed! —
I came the other ... " " It's queer; I'm sure ... "
" What frightful pictures! " " Fiends! " " The crowd! "
" Such nudes! " " I can't endure ... "

" Yes, there they go. " " Heavens! Are we right? "
" Follow up closer! " " " Prout"? — sand-blind! "
" This endless ... " " Who's turned down the light? "
" Keep calm! They're close behind. "

" Oh! Dr. Mallus; what dismal stairs! "
" I hate these old Victor ... " " Dry rot! "
" Darker and darker. " " Fog! " " The air's ... "
" Scarce breathable! " " Hell! " " What? "

" The banister's gone! " " It's deep; keep close! "
" We're going down and down! " " What fun! "
" Damp! Why, my shoes ... " " It's slimy ... Not moss! "
" I'm freezing cold! " " Let's run. "

" ... Behind us. I'm giddy. . . . " " The catacombs ... "
" That shout! " " Who's there? " " I'm alone! " " Stand back! "
" She said, Lead ... " " Oh! " " Where's Toomes? " " Toomes! " " T OOMES ! "
" Stifling! " " My skull will crack! "

" Sir Nathan! Ai! " " I say! Toomes! Prout! "
" Where? Where? " " " Our silks and fine array" ... "
" She's mad. " " I'm dying! " " Oh, Let me out! "
" My God! We've lost our way! " ...

And now how sad-serene the abandoned house,
Whereon at dawn the spring-tide sunbeams beat;
And time's slow pace alone is ominous,
And naught but shadows of noonday therein meet;
Domestic microcosm, only a Trump could rouse:
And, pondering darkly, in the silent rooms,
He who misled them all — the butler, Toomes.