Poems

...was that his name...

...I often try Of osteo- and hydro-path ; To fit the names . . . they slip and change of late Not knowing as they barked their shin That every ill was cured within...

...Helen Or else when things looked bright and bad "Yea, child, my name was Helen . . . I think so . Brought on the case some likely lad, Helen...

...But Helen stayed As he tossed it down to the very pulp...

...A most tremendous, strange M. D. Helen Whose porch-lamps numbered only three"All battles are the same when they are done . . . Who called for fire and called for ice, But Helen, once, saw moonlight on the sea . . " For plovers' eggs, and purple mice, Nux-vomica, and mermaids' toes Child And chutney sauce, which he boiled and froze "Then tell me of the happy vows you paid And shook into a salmon tint...

...I mean no wrong to professional brothers, Then straightway with a blaze of lights So I hope tonight to display some others...

...In Troy . . . I know . . . Cease, child-you trouble me...

...His eyes bulged out, and he muttered, "My, sir, ISABEL ECCLESTONE MACKAY...

...Yet while all Chinaland grew bright, Helen With spirit lamps, alas, what plight...

...The doctor with the fewest lamps...

...Through dismal haunts of bat and owl, Helen Cursing the darkened doors in wrath "Hector...

...Child At last into the sacred door "But, lady, you were Helen . . . tell but one They ushered to the emperor Of those famed battles joined to make you free...

...Helen The Son of Heaven was heard to gulp "Returned, you say...

...The world of fashion more and more Strolled up and down before their door, And blessed the shrewd old monarch's cue glen Old For such a brilliant rendezvous...

...And called in consultation him Child Whose rival lamps looked all too dim- "There was a song of Helen . . . 'World's Delight.' (A game, though hardly after Hoyle, It names her, 'Heaven Fair' and 'Rose Divine.' " Of how to save the midnight oil...

...His neighbor filled a lamp or two Rejoicing patients were so few...

...Who in a high decree ordained- The M. D. stiffened down to his cue "Each Doctor must a lamp provide As he noticed the emperor turning blueFor every patient that has died, "0, Son of Glory, but yesterday No matter how they're multiplied...

...i6o THE COMMONWEAL June 16, 1926 POEM S The Street of Doctors You certainly pour an appetizer ! But tell me, now, while your balm is working In old Pekin a monarch reigned How long have you been so darkly lurking...

...And decked the cup with a sprig of mint...

...Upon their dear old emperor, Until with tonsils, blue and furry, Child He bade the mandarins to hurry, "No color, lady...

...THOMAS WALSH...

...A song...

...Child While "Feasts of Lanterns" shamed the sun "Great lady, were you Helen long ago...

...Tell of that day which saw great Hector die, Or, wisdom-lighted, far would prowl Dragged in the dust beneath the echoing gate...

...Tell me of that host, And fetch, to ease his gripes and cramps, So splendid brave, who fought before Troy's town...

...I thought of her but yesterday...

...I got my practice underway...

...returned...

...On pain of death do we enact Three lamps I lighted to make my score, That by his door, each prophylact For the market was short of any moreShall keep his score of lamps exact...

...Tis true one sang to me by night Dyspepsia fastened more and more Of Helen's eyes--what color, child, are mine...

...Helen "A host of shadows, child . . . ghost locked with ghost .. . By north and south and east and west Blows falling light as sea-mist drifting down-" They journeyed on their slippered quest...

...Around the porticoes of one, And were you beautiful as all men say...

...When you returned-the crowds, the pageantry...

...And made their census of the lights Child Through glasses smoked to save their sights...

...The Street of Doctors shone by nights...