The Eighth Sin/On Reading some Testimonials
My testimonial-writers fill
(Intentionally inexact)
The fauteuils nearest to the grill—
The hottest seats are always packed.
Intentionally inexact
They roast and crackle on the griddle,
The hottest seats are always packed
The frying fat sings like a fiddle.
They roast and crackle on the griddle
They wrote me better than I am,
The frying fat slugs like a fiddle
I do not give a single dn.
They wrote me better than I am
Thus making me a good deal worse,
They did not give a single dn
(Except when needed for the verse)
Thus making me a good deal worse
They disappoint the bright-eyed dons
Except when needed for the verse
They cannot tell their geese from swans.
They disappoint the bright-eyed dons
Who beamed with glee in hopes to find
(They cannot tell their geese from swans)
The "sterling heart," the "radiant mind."
They beamed with glee in hopes to find—
But all aghast in vain they seek
The "sterling heart," the "radiant mind"
Whereof my testimonials speak.
All aghast in vain they seek,
And finding I am not the sort
Whereof my testimonials speak
The dons have gone back to their port.
Finding I am not the sort,
Their kindly zeal availing not,
The dons have gone back to their port
Feeling, perhaps, a trifle hot.
Their kindly zeal availing not
The fauteuils nearest to the grill
(Feeling, perhaps, a trifle hot)
My testimonial-writers fill.