Wallace Stevens
The Emperor of Ice-Cream (1922)
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Call the roller of big cigars, |
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The muscular one, and bid him whip |
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In kitchen cups concupiscent curds. |
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Let the wenches dawdle in such dress |
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As they are used to wear, and let the boys |
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Bring flowers in last month's newspapers. |
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Let be be finale of seem. |
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The only emperor is the emperor of ice-cream. |
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Take from the dresser of deal, |
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Lacking the three glass knobs, that sheet |
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On which she embroidered fantails once |
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And spread it so as to cover her face. |
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If her horny feet protrude, they come |
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To show how cold she is, and dumb. |
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Let the lamp affix its beam. |
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The only emperor is the emperor of ice-cream. |