Drapers Dummies
Clarence Michael James Stanislaus Dennis 1876 (Auburn) – 1938 (Melbourne)
What do they dream about standing there
In the windows facing the street?
Eyes transfixed in a strange, far stare,
Smiles so ineffably sweet;
Lady and gentleman dummies clad
In the newest fashion, the latest fad.
Garbed so expensively, well turned out
What have they got to commune about?
Winter comes. Now a chill wind stirs;
The rain comes pattering down
But they suddenly snuggle in coats and furs
And the coziest cloaks in town.
Field-glasses there or a race-book here
'The National? Why, of course, my dear,
I mean to be there tho' Trophet may freeze.
How could I miss it, in clothes like these?'
Spring smiles down and the days grow bright,
And the ladies, garbed anew,
Change, like the tulips, overnight
To gowns of many a hue.
As in a garden gay colors glow,
They are thinking of Henley, the Cup, the Show;
While each glad gentleman, blazer clad,
Is the beau ideal of the sporting lad.
But Henley comes, and the Show, the Cup;
Yet no superior 'gent.'
No simpering lady e'er turns up:
For, still in their windows pent.
Dressed for the revel, how like they seem
To me and to many who stand and dream:
Poor human dummies, but half alive,
Who are always 'going' but never arrive.
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Submitted on May 13, 2011
Modified on March 05, 2023
- 1:05 min read
- 110 Views
Quick analysis:
Scheme | ABABCCDD EFEFXXGG HIHIJJCC KLKLMMNN |
---|---|
Closest metre | Iambic tetrameter |
Characters | 1,164 |
Words | 218 |
Stanzas | 4 |
Stanza Lengths | 8, 8, 8, 8 |
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"Drapers Dummies" Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 4 May 2024. <https://www.poetry.com/poem/6297/drapers-dummies>.
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