Mabel, The Made-up.
This is the Forest of St. John. The murmuring pines and the hemlocks,
Bearded with moss and with lichens, have nothing to do with this Forest.
Here ’stead of pines there are lamp-posts; and ’stead of the hemlocks, post-pillars;
And as for the moss and the lichens, there’s dust and there’s slush in their places.
This is the Forest of St. John—but here are no beasts save cab-horses;
Birds, though—soiled doves as some call them—roost pretty thick in its villas.
Sooth ’tis a forest, say some, where one may find lots of “dears-talking.”
Certainly is it a tract for growing wild oats very famous!
Ye who believe in fair beauty, in beauty skin deep and enduring,