Fashion

FAIR Eve devised a walking-suit

Of jungle grasses, soft and crimpy;

She thought it rather neat and cute

Till Adam grunted, “Pretty skimpy!”

A cloak of palm-leaves, sought for miles,

She made, and came to be admired;

But Adam said, “The silly styles

You women wear just make me tired!”

She built herself a little hat

Of lilies (Eve was very clever),

And asked him what he thought of that?

And Adam blurted, “Well, I never!”

So next she placed upon her head

A feathered three-by-four Creation.—

The little word that Adam said

Is barred from parlor conversation.

Yet Eve refused to be a dowd,

And tied an autumn-tinted sash on.

“I’ll dress to please myself!” she vowed,

“For what does Adam know of fashion?

“What use to seek applause from him?

He scoffs and says I cannot reason!

Well, then, my law shall be my whim—

And that shall change with every season.”

Since when, revolving cycles bring

The gayest fashions and the queerest;

And Eve declares, “It’s just the thing!”

And Adam murmurs, “Is it, dearest?”