Bliss Carman, et al., eds. The World’s Best Poetry.
Volume IX. Tragedy: Humor. 1904. | | | | Humorous Poems: II. Miscellaneous | | The Compliment | | Eugene Field (1850–1895) |
| | | ARRAYED in snow-white pants and vest, | |
| And other rainment fair to view, | |
| I stood before my sweetheart Sue— | |
| The charming creature I love best. | |
| “Tell me and does my costume suit?” | 5 |
| I asked that apple of my eye— | |
| And then the charmer made reply, | |
| “Oh, yes, you do look awful cute!” | |
| Although I frequently had heard | |
| My sweetheart vent her pleasure so, | 10 |
| I must confess I did not know | |
| The meaning of that favorite word. | |
| |
| But presently at window side | |
| We stood and watched the passing throng, | |
| And soon a donkey passed along | 15 |
| With ears like wings extended wide. | |
| And gazing at the doleful brute | |
| My sweetheart gave a merry cry— | |
| I quote her language with a sigh— | |
| “O Charlie, ain’t he awful cute?” | 20 | | | |
|
|
