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If You Pull a Long Face - Part Xlii - 42

IF YOU PULL A LONG FACE: 42 If you pull a long-bored acrimonious face Looking hardly at anyone passing your way Your sunken cheeks spiting your own face But those bitter bitten lips will give you away If you keep pulling that long forsaken-look face Wondering why each face will not own mask betray Slop around in slippers not deigning to tie shoe-lace Know that « la caque sent toujours le hareng »* all day If you then must keep pulling your long sagging face To thwart all and everything not going your way The noble Fa-Ling lines stop at the mouth without grace: The « Flying Serpent enters the mouth", the Chinese say If you still insist on pulling that long worsted face Since no-one will miss you once you’re gone, you say Just think how many have not even by « contumace" Pulled a long lost face some weary dreary day So if you're the kind to pull a put-up pleasant face See no smile lurking in within the Sun’s awakening ray Hear no Garden Warbler trill livening up the pace Know then, Friend, you’re loose change in the cash tray Note: * Literally, in French, means: "the herring barrel always stinks of herring », but figuratively, as in this instance, means: « you can’t hide your origins ». (c) T. Wignesan - Paris, September 18, 2019

Copyright © | Year Posted 2019




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Book: Shattered Sighs