Modes Paiennes

Today I feel so old
—twenty-four is a very great age—
I am so tired of life!

I think that I shall go down into the city
to call on my tailor and my mercer
who lure me with strange spells.

There I shall revel in a sartorial orgy:
I shall buy something absurd and delightful
such as my dressing-gown of copper-apricot brocade
whereon the stars and planets whirl,
or my black scarf with blue dragons snarling,
or my silk bathing-trunks blue as the Mediterranean sky . . .

I think that down in the city I shall buy
the crushed strawberry sports coat I admired last week;
and perhaps the grey satin tie patterned with gold kowhai blooms,

or a daffodil sports shirt . . .
or possibly a hat in pine green, or burgundy . . .

Then I shall be cheerful again!

a.