POEMS OF JAMES RYDER RANDALL
THE COBRA CAPELLO
“The cobra, though exceedingly venomous, has an aspect of gentleness and docility.”—Encyclopedia.
Beautiful—yes! for her basilisk eyes
Gleam out when the features are luscious and mellow;
Beautiful—yes! but adown the disguise,
I detect just a tinge of the Cobra Capello.
And I think Mother Eve looked exactly like this
When she played such a prank on uxorious Adam;
I’ve a chronic dislike to a serpentine kiss,
And never eat apples in any style, Madam.
Beautiful—yes! as she paddles her fan
’Mid the bordered lagoons of her robe of white muslin;
And the tight little boot taps a quick rataplan,
In a way most piratical, not to say puzzling.
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