Poems (Lambert)/I am Fashion's Toy
I AM FASHION'S TOY.
LINES WRITTEN UPON SEEING A FASHIONABLY-DRESSED LADY ASK A SERVANT FOR A FEW BLADES OF GRASS, WHICH SHE PLACED UPON HER BOSOM.
OH I give to me of the bright green leaves, For they tell me of the past;When I roved at will mid the golden sheaves—And my heart it wildly, madly grieves, And it throbs so painfully fast,As I think of the days of peace and joyThat forever are gone—I am fashion's toy.
Yes, the modeste decks my raven hair, In many a shape and coil—And she dyes my cheek with the carmine rare,And she makes my brow as the lily fair, And they tell me, for beauty I can compare With the daughters of eastern soil;Yet, I sigh when I smile in my empty joy,For I know, alas! I am fashion's toy.
My form is stately, and full of pride—And the high of the land linger near my side, Yet as they fawning bow,My heart flows back on sweet memory's tide,And I forget they are near my side, And the past seems to me now.Then I dream of the sweets that could not cloy,For a moment forget, I am fashion's toy.
Yes, this grass reminds me of long past hours,When in the woodland glen I revelled 'mid song and birds and flowers,And formed, with the evergreen, fairy bowers.Ah! I was not lonely then; For he was with me, my pride, my joy—He is dead to me now, I am fashion's toy. Ah! the hearts and the diamonds that lie at my feet—Hearts are all hollow, and diamonds a cheat, Yet I cannot cast them away;I need much wealth for my life of deceit— Yes, I need it every day.I must give to the poor, for that bliss doesn't cloy'Tis my only relief—I am fashion's toy.
And is there no end to this empty life;To this life of lip-smiles and a soul at strife? Must it ever, ever last?Shall I look through the vista dim of years,And see there naught but grief, sin, and tears?Ah! these blades of grass for a moment brief,O'erflood my soul with a sweet relief, And I live in the happy past.In my dreams, I again am a maiden coy,And I live o'er my life of love and joy—Now, the dream is past. I am fashion's toy.