Corinna's Not Going A-Maying

(The Lady addresses Mr. Herrick)

I like to sleep late on these fine spring mornings

Or lie in bed dreaming and half awake,

And here's some fool babbling about Aurora

Under my window.  O for heaven's sake!

I don't intend to deck myself with flowers

And walk about spangled with gems of dew.

The other girls can play at being milkmaids.

I'd feel a perfect fool.  And wouldn't you?

But to your pastoral theme of sticky greenery

You bring in kisses as a counterpoint

And talk of early morning assignations ...

Aha! I think we're coming to the point.

Life is so short! you cry.  But on this subject

Enough (enough, already) has been said.

Death's night is long, but last night isn't over.

Pack it in, Bob.  I'm going back to bed.

Gail White

From The Price of Everything, The Edwin Mellen
Press, © 2001.  Originally printed in The Random
House Treasury of Light Verse, 1995.  Reprinted
by permission of the author.