Kling-ling-ling-ling! They'll be breaking
That poor bell-rope clean in two.
Would to Heav'n the Deuce were taking
All the noisy, ringing crew!
"Boy! Who makes that row appalling?"
"Sir, an ancient, dowdy dame,
Wrinkled, crinkled, comes a-calling;
Wisdom is the lady's name."
"Boy! To sober statesmen send her
Or to sages grey" (I said)
"They may possibly attend her --
As for me -- I'm sick in bed."
Kling-ling-ling-ling!
"Boy, who's there?" "A frowsy, frigid,
Rusty-dress-enveloped dame,
With an aspect stern and rigid --
Madame Frugal is her name."
"Tell her that I'm not at leisure:
She would bid me scrape and save;
Songs and flowers are all my treasure --
Songs and flowers are all I crave."
Kling-ling-ling-ling!
"Boy! who's there?" "A young and slender
Smiling dashing sort of dame,
Blest with eyes of bluest splendor,
Freedom is the lady's name."
"Let her in! But, stay -- the darling
Seems to chirp and chatter so --"
"Sir -- she's loud as any starling."
"Starling? -- Thunder! Let her go!"
Kling-ling-ling-ling!
"Boy! Who's there?" "A damsel jolly,
Gay of dress and light of mien,
Laughs and says her name is Folly --"
"Folly, boy -- the Poet's Queen!
Bid her go, thou blockhead? Never!
For where'er the poets roam,
Folly's faithful subjects ever,
When she calls we're always home."
First published in The Bulletin, 3 March 1900
