Dreamers and Other Poems

<p><SPAN name="MONSEIGNEUR_PLAYS" id="MONSEIGNEUR_PLAYS"></SPAN>MONSEIGNEUR PLAYS</p> <span style="margin-left: 2em;">Monseigneur plays his new gavotte&mdash;</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 3em;">Within her gilded chair the Queen</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 3em;">Listens, her rustling maids between;</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 4em;">A very tulip-garden stirred</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 4em;">To hear the fluting of a bird;</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 3em;">Faint sunlight through the casement falls</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 3em;">On cupids painted on the walls</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 4em;">At play with doves. Precisely set</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 4em;">Awaits the slender legged spinet</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 2em;">Expectant of its happy lot,</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 3em;">The while the player stays to twist</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 3em;">The cobweb ruffle from his wrist.</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 2em;">A pause, and then&mdash;(Ah, whisper not)</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 2em;">Monseigneur plays his new gavotte.</span><br/> <br/> <span style="margin-left: 2em;">Monseigneur plays his new gavotte&mdash;</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 3em;">Hark, 'tis the faintest dawn of Spring,</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 3em;">So still the dew drops whispering</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 4em;">Is loud upon the violets;</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 4em;">Here in this garden of Pierrettes'</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 3em;">Where Pierrot waits, ah, hasten Sweet,</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 3em;">And hear; on dainty, tripping feet</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 4em;">She comes&mdash;the little, glad coquette.</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 4em;">"Ah thou, Pierrot?" "Ah thou, Pierrette?"</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 3em;">A kiss, nay, hear&mdash;a bird wakes, then</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 3em;">A silence&mdash;and they kiss again,</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 2em;">"Ah, Mesdames, have you quite forgot&mdash;"</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 3em;">(So laughs his music.) "Love's first kiss?</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 3em;">Let this note lead you then, and this</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 2em;">Back to that fragrant garden-spot."</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 2em;">Monseigneur plays his new gavotte.</span><br/> <br/> <span style="margin-left: 2em;">Monseigneur plays his new gavotte&mdash;</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 4em;">Ah, hear&mdash;in that last note they go</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 3em;">The little lovers laughing so;</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 4em;">Kissing their finger-tips, they dance</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 4em;">From out this gilded room of France.</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 3em;">Adieu! Monseigneur rises now</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 3em;">Ready for compliment and bow,</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 4em;">Playing about his mouth the while</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 4em;">Its cynical, accustomed smile,</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 3em;">Protests and, hand on heart, avers</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 3em;">The patience of his listeners.</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 2em;">"A masterpiece? Ah, surely not."</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 3em;">A grey-eyed maid of honour slips</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 3em;">A long stemmed rose across her lips</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 2em;">And drops it; does he guess her thought?</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 2em;">Monseigneur plays his new gavotte.</span><br/> <hr style="width: 65%;" /> <div style="break-after:column;"></div><br />