10.06.2007, 13:22
Fleming Helphenstine
At first I thought there was a superfine
Persuasion in his face, but the free glow
That filled it when he stopped and cried, “Hollo!”
Shone joyously, and so I let it shine.
He said his name was Fleming Helphenstine,
But be that as it may; - I only know
He talked of this and that and So-and-so,
And laughed and chaffed like any friend of mine.
But soon, with a queer, quick frown, he looked at me,
And I looked hard at him; and there we gazed
In a strained way that made us cringe and wince:
Then, with a wordless cloogged apology
That sounded half confused and half amazed,
He dodged, - and I have never seen him since.
At first I thought there was a superfine
Persuasion in his face, but the free glow
That filled it when he stopped and cried, “Hollo!”
Shone joyously, and so I let it shine.
He said his name was Fleming Helphenstine,
But be that as it may; - I only know
He talked of this and that and So-and-so,
And laughed and chaffed like any friend of mine.
But soon, with a queer, quick frown, he looked at me,
And I looked hard at him; and there we gazed
In a strained way that made us cringe and wince:
Then, with a wordless cloogged apology
That sounded half confused and half amazed,
He dodged, - and I have never seen him since.