Feathers of wonderful birds,
Jewels and precious stones,
And horses white as the milk--
These are the gifts of kings:
But the gifts that the poet brings
Are nothing but words.

Forty thousand words!
Take them--a gift of flies!
Words that should have been birds,
Words that should have been flowers,
Words that should have been stars
In the eternal skies.
Forty thousand words!
Forty thousand tears--
All out of two sad eyes.




CONTENTS PAGE

A SEVENTH-STORY HEAVEN, 1
SPRING BY PARCEL POST, 20
THE GREAT MERRY-GO-ROUND, 27
THE BURIAL OF ROMEO AND JULIET, 39
VARIATIONS UPON WHITEBAIT, 49
THE ANSWER OF THE ROSE, 58
ABOUT THE SECURITIES, 67
THE BOOM IN YELLOW, 79