The Practical Romance of a Thunderstorm.

An angry cloud was spitting fire Athwart the saddle of the sky; Long peals of thunder seemed to tire The echoes as they rumbled by; And rain, with splash of green desire, Had left no spot of Elsie dry. The nearest shelter to be found Was more than half a mile away, As, seated on the simple ground, We watched the cra y lightnings play; And !oy, refusing to be drowned, "emarked it was a fine display. Although her hair like seaweed hung, #y Elsie$s lips were %ery red; Her cheerful smiles around she flung And dimpled at the things she said; Her eyes were %ery sweet and young And made blue flashes round her head. And & myself was %ery nice, 'espite the fact that & am thin; #y laughter fell like grains of rice (low tinkling on a tray of tin; )or my especial *aradise Was good, for all the lightning$s sin. We sat upon a little hill Where fern was long and grass was green Trimmed round with happy cows as still As carrots in a soup+tureen; And Elsie tried with pleasant skill To act the part of Tempest ,ueen. Her royal hand was round my waistThe slim and dapper waist & wear& ga%e her my warm lips to taste And helped myself to half her hair; #y form against a boulder braced, & took of lo%e the larger share.

)or Elsie$s weight is fifteen stone, And mine stops short at ten+stone+three, Wherefore this maid who was my own /ompletely co%ered most of me; The thunder uttered growl and groan To see the girl upon my knee. 'ry as the towel of a saint, 0oyous as cats with milk replete, & heard the rain without restraint Against my dainty lady beat; & raised no murmur of complaint, /ontent to be her lowly seat. 1n high the fren ied lightning flared. 2eneath it flashed her sunny smile; 3lad fancies through the storm we shared &n 4uite the old romantic style; Thatched with her lo%e & little cared )or gamp or roof of slate and tile5 The storm went by, the sun shone clear, A drying wind began to blow; /loudless as lo%e that con4uers fear The clean+washed skies were seen to glow. #y Elsie grew as dry as dear, )rom dimpled chin to shining toe. And as we took our homeward way #y thoughts were in a happy whirl1h, lo%e had surely come to stay, )or & had found the perfect pearl5 & knew that & should dwell one day 2eneath the shelter of this girl. 1thers ha%e dreamt of mansions wide. 1f homes by 0erry built with speed; (uch things & felt my soul deride And chortled !oyously indeed; )or in the sweet girl at my side Was all the rooftree & could need.
*at 1$#aori. *seudonym of 'a%id #c6ee Wright. 7.(.W. The Bulletin, 8 April .9.8.