THE CLERK’S LAMENT
Vanity Fair (UK) (November 17, 1904)
(The shareholders of the Aerated Bread Co complain that the ABC girls are not pretty enough.)
Time was when office cares perplexed
And rendered me unhappy,
When “dumping” made the chiefs quite vexed,
And consequently snappy,
When one had chimed, I’d fade from view
And seek the nearest tea-shop:
I looked for sympathy from you,
Maid of the ABC shop.
As when a thirsty traveller, who
Is touring desert places,
Detects at last, when all seems blue,
A genuine oasis;
He flings himself upon the sward,
And rises fit for duty—
Just so was I bucked up, restored,
By gazing on your beauty.
As on my penny roll I pressed
Its complement of butter,
The thoughts that rose within my breast
Were more than I could utter.
Your beauty set my heart ablaze,
I longed for words to hymn it:
In fact, to use a Yankee phrase,
I thought you “just the limit”.
But now I hear my taste’s at fault,
My judgment, I am told, errs:
They say she is not worth her salt,
Those callous, cold shareholders.
My hopes are crumbled into dust,
My fondest dreams are scattered,
Ah, well, it’s really only just
One more illusion shattered.