Glittering white and black
As the swan’s glassy back
On the Styx’ soundless track,
Sharp as bird’s painted bill,
Pecking fruit, sweet and shrill,
On a dark window-sill.
See the glass house as smooth
As a wide puppet-booth ...
Snow strikes it like a sooth
Melon-shaped mandoline
With the sharp tang and sheen
Of flames that cry, “Unclean!”
Dinah with scarlet ruche,
Gay-plumaged Fanfreluche,
Watch shrill as Scaramouche
In the huge house of glass
Old shadows bent, alas!
On ebon sticks now pass—
Lean on a nigger boy
Creep like a broken toy—
Wooden and painted joy.
Trains sweep the empty floors—
Pelongs and Pallampores,
Bulchauls and Sallampores,
Soundless as any breeze
(Amber and orangeries)
From isles in Indian seas.
Black spangled veils falling
(The cold is appalling),
They wave fans, hear calling