MY FANCY
Reading edition
(From “College Rhymes”[15])
I painted her a gushing thing, With years perhaps a score; I little thought to find they were At least a dozen more; My fancy gave her eyes of blue, A curly auburn head: I came to find the blue a green, The auburn turned to red.
She boxed my ears this morning, They tingled very much; I own that I could wish her A somewhat lighter touch; And if you ask me how Her charms might be improved, I would not have them added to, But just a few removed! She has the bear’s ethereal grace, The bland hyena’s laugh, The footstep of the elephant, The neck of the giraffe; I love her still, believe me, Though my heart its passion hides; “She’s all my fancy painted her,” But oh! how much besides!