T. R. Smith, comp. Poetica Erotica: Rare and Curious Amatory Verse. 1921–22.
Of Politicians
By Thomas Burke (1886–1945)(From The Song Book of Quong Lee of Limehouse, 1920) |
UPON a time the amiable Bill Hawkins, | |
| Married a fair wife, demure and of chaste repute, | |
| Keeping closely from her, however, | |
| Any knowledge of the manner of man he had been. | |
| Upon the nuptial night, | 5 |
| Awaking and finding himself couched with a woman, | |
| As had happened on divers occasions, | |
| He arose and dressed and departed, | |
| Leaving at the couch’s side four goodly coins. | |
| But in the street, | 10 |
| Remembering the occasion and his present estate of marriage, | |
| He returned with a haste of no-dignity, | |
| Filled with emotions of an entirely disturbing nature, | |
| Fear that his wife should discover his absence, | |
| And place evil construction upon it, being uppermost. | 15 |
| Entering stealthily, then, with the toes of the leopard, | |
| With intention of quickly disrobing, | |
| And rejoining the forsaken bride, | |
| He perceived her sitting erect on the couch, | |
| Biting shrewdly, with a distressing air of experience, | 20 |
| At one of the coins. | |
| Even so it is when Big Politician meets Little Politician. | |