Madam Life's a Piece in Bloom
Madam Life's a Piece in Bloom
Original Text
William Ernest Henley, "Echoes IX," Poems (London: Macmillan and Co., 1920): 87. PR 4783 A36 1921 Robarts Library
1 Madam Life's a piece in bloom
2 Death goes dogging everywhere:
3She's the tenant of the room,
4 He's the ruffian on the stair.
5 You shall see her as a friend,
6You shall bilk him once or twice;
7 But he'll trap you in the end,
8And he'll stick you for her price.
9With his kneebones at your chest,
10 And his knuckles in your throat,
11You would reason -- plead -- protest!
12 Clutching at her petticoat;
13 But she's heard it all before,
14Well she knows you've had your fun,
15 Gingerly she gains the door,
16And your little job is done.
RPO poem Editors
Ian Lancashire
RPO Edition
RPO 1996-2000.
Rhyme