Watch the reporters spit,
Watch the anger of the professors,
Watch how the pretty ladies revile them:
"Is this," they say, "the nonsense
that we expect of poets?"
"Where is the Picturesque?"
"Where is the vertigo of emotion?"
"No! his first work was the best."
"Poor Dear! he has lost his illusions."
Go, little naked and impudent songs,
Go with a light foot!
(Or with two light feet, if it please you!)
Go and dance shamelessly!
Go with an impertinent frolic!
Greet the grave and the stodgy,
Salute them with your thumbs at your noses.
Here are your bells and confetti.
Go! rejuvenate things!
Rejuvenate even "The Spectator."
Go! and make cat calls!
Dance and make people blush,
Dance the dance of the phallus
and tell anecdotes of Cybele!
Speak of the indecorous conduct of the Gods!
(Tell it to Mr. Strachey.)
[7]
