Part 42 (1/2)

CULTURE IN THE SLUMS [1887]

[By WILLIAM ERNEST HENLEY: ”Inscribed to an intense poet”].

I. _Rondeau._

I

”O crikey, Bill!” she ses to me, she ses.

”Look sharp,” ses she, ”with them there sossiges.

Yea! sharp with them there bags of mysteree! [1]

For lo!” she ses, ”for lo! old pal,” ses she, [2]

”I'm blooming peckish, neither more nor less.” [3]

II

Was it not prime--I leave you all to guess How prime! to have a jude in love's distress [4]

Come spooning round, and murmuring balmilee, [5]

”O crikey, Bill!”

III

For in such rorty wise doth Love express [6]

His blooming views, and asks for your address, And makes it right, and does the gay and free.

I kissed her--I did so! And her and me Was pals. And if that ain't good business.

O crikey, Bill!

II. _Villanelle_.

I

Now ain't they utterly too--too? [7]

(She ses, my Missus mine, ses she), Them flymy little bits of Blue. [8]

II

Joe, just you kool 'em--nice and skew [9]

Upon our old meogginee, Now ain't they utterly too-too?

III

They're better than a pot'n a screw, They're equal to a Sunday spree, Them flymy little bits of Blue!

IV

Suppose I put 'em up the flue, [10]

And booze the profits, Joe? Not me. [11]

Now ain't they utterly too-too ?

V