Classic Poem

WITH THE CUSTOMARY OBEISANCES

'Twas on the shores that round our coast
From Deal to Newport lie
That I roused from sleep in a huddled heap
An elderly wealthy guy.

His hair was graying, his hair was long,
And graying and long was he;
And I heard this grouch on the shore avouch,
In a singular jazzless key:

" Oh, I am a cook and a waitress trim
And the maid of the second floor,
And a strong chauffeur and a housekeep er ,
And the man who tends the door! "

And he shook his fists and he tore his hair,
And he started to frisk and play,
Till I couldn't help thinking the man had been drinking,
So I said (in the Gilbert way):

" Oh, elderly man, I don't know much
Of the ways of societee,
But I'll eat my friend if I comprehend
However you can be

" At once a cook and a waitress trim
And the maid of the second floor,
And a strong chauffeur and a housekeep er ,
And the man who tends the door. "

Then he smooths his hair with a nervous air,
And a gulp in his throat he swallows,
And that elderly guy he then lets fly
Substantially as follows:

" We had a house down Newport way,
And we led a simple life;
There was only I, " said the elderly guy,
" And my daughter and my wife.

" And of course the cook and the waitress trim
And the maid of the second floor,
And a strong chauffeur and a housekeep er ,
And the man who tends the door.

" One day the cook she up and left,
She up and left us flat.
She was getting a hundred and ten a mon-
Th, but she couldn't work for that.

" And the waitress trim was her bosom friend,
And she wouldn't stay no more;
And our strong chauffeur eloped with her
Who was maid of the second floor.

" And we couldn't get no other help,
So I had to cook and wait.
It was quite absurd, " wept the elderly bird.
" I deserve a better fate.

" And I drove the car and I made the beds
Till the housekeeper up and quit;
And the man at the door found that a bore,
Which is why I am, to wit:

" At once a cook and a waitress trim
And the maid of the second floor,
And a strong chauffeur and a housekeep er ,
And the man who tends the door. "