Poems (Rice)/Do wait, if you can
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
DO WAIT, IF YOU CAN.
I've mended the sheets and the pillow-slips, too,
And said, for months past,—A week more they may do!
Patched, woven, and stitched, the inside turned out,
Reversed and inserted, and twisted about,
Till articles number but few in the drawer,
That haven't a patch, or a seam, or a flaw;
All this the result of the great wisdom of man,
Who replied from the first—Do wait, if you can.
And said, for months past,—A week more they may do!
Patched, woven, and stitched, the inside turned out,
Reversed and inserted, and twisted about,
Till articles number but few in the drawer,
That haven't a patch, or a seam, or a flaw;
All this the result of the great wisdom of man,
Who replied from the first—Do wait, if you can.
Appeals that were urgent; this was the reply:
White cloth will be cheaper, my dear, by-and-by;
This horrible war will soon come to an end,
The South again to us their cotton will send.
Speculation is rife; the merchant to-day
Is having the price-current all his own way;
Stewart in cotton is leading the van,
And still it goes on—Do wait, if you can.
White cloth will be cheaper, my dear, by-and-by;
This horrible war will soon come to an end,
The South again to us their cotton will send.
Speculation is rife; the merchant to-day
Is having the price-current all his own way;
Stewart in cotton is leading the van,
And still it goes on—Do wait, if you can.
The same it has been for two terrible years,
And no change, as yet, in the programme appears;
White cotton is up, and the black man is free,
The condition of things distressing to see.
Perplexing, exhausting, we ponder and sigh,
The war rages on and the taxes are high,
The self-same response as when first it began,
Be patient, and wait—Do wait, if you can.
And no change, as yet, in the programme appears;
White cotton is up, and the black man is free,
The condition of things distressing to see.
Perplexing, exhausting, we ponder and sigh,
The war rages on and the taxes are high,
The self-same response as when first it began,
Be patient, and wait—Do wait, if you can.
Thus, week after week, by the clothes-basket, when
From the laundry the clothes come in dozens, I then
Overhaul and arrange each set in their place,
Sew strings on, the buttons, the ruffs, and the lace,
All examine with care; and while I behold,
Each article seems now as precious as gold,
So dazzlingly white; then how may I plan
For more? The response is—Do wait, if you can.
From the laundry the clothes come in dozens, I then
Overhaul and arrange each set in their place,
Sew strings on, the buttons, the ruffs, and the lace,
All examine with care; and while I behold,
Each article seems now as precious as gold,
So dazzlingly white; then how may I plan
For more? The response is—Do wait, if you can.
Fine ruffles and tucks, which once floated around
The beautiful belle, on the pavement and ground,
Are rarely displayed, as the future they fear
May leave them quite minus a wrapping so dear;
And, alas! there's another great charm they must lose,
For the white cotton hose what substitute choose?
Week in and week out we retrench for the clan,
While the key-note is still—Do wait, if you can.
The beautiful belle, on the pavement and ground,
Are rarely displayed, as the future they fear
May leave them quite minus a wrapping so dear;
And, alas! there's another great charm they must lose,
For the white cotton hose what substitute choose?
Week in and week out we retrench for the clan,
While the key-note is still—Do wait, if you can.
The palace-like stores in Franklin Street Square,
Of cotton goods soon must be empty and bare;
Princes who trade there, an intelligent host,
May not of their fortunes make hurry to boast;
We would not complain at successes so great,
E'en though they do dine from cut-glass and plate,
If the cloud from the brow of the poor they will fan,
And never say to them —Pray wait, if you can.
Of cotton goods soon must be empty and bare;
Princes who trade there, an intelligent host,
May not of their fortunes make hurry to boast;
We would not complain at successes so great,
E'en though they do dine from cut-glass and plate,
If the cloud from the brow of the poor they will fan,
And never say to them —Pray wait, if you can.
A woman contented, who ever could be?
Forever we're waiting, yes waiting to see
Some happy event which will never take place;
Disappointments of life we can never efface.
And then if a woman contented you find,
Preach much as you will, how small is her mind
Who humbly submits to whatever her fate;
Then marvel not we do impatiently wait.
Forever we're waiting, yes waiting to see
Some happy event which will never take place;
Disappointments of life we can never efface.
And then if a woman contented you find,
Preach much as you will, how small is her mind
Who humbly submits to whatever her fate;
Then marvel not we do impatiently wait.