Edgar Allan Poe Poem "The Raven" – Flashcards

In a prominent bar in Secaucus one day Rose a lady in skunk with a topheavy sway, Raised a knobby red finger-all turned from their beer- While with eyes bright as snowcrust she sang high and clear: 'Now who of you'd think from an eyeload of me That I once was a lady as proud as could be? Oh I'd never sit down by a tumbledown drunk If it wasn't, my dears, for the high cost of junk. 'All the gents used to swear that the white of my calf Beat the down of the swan by a length and a half. In the kerchief of linen I caught to my nose Ah, there never fell snot, but a little gold rose. 'I had seven gold teeth and a toothpick of gold, My Virginia cheroot was a leaf of it rolled And I'd light it each time with a thousand in cash- Why the bums used to fight if I flicked them an ash. 'Once the toast of the Biltmore, the belle of the Taft, I would drink bottle beer at the Drake, never draught, And dine at the Astor on Salisbury steak With a clean tablecloth for each bite I did take. 'In a car like the Roxy I'd roll to the track, A steel-guitar trio, a bar in the back, And the wheels made no noise, they turned ever so fast, Still it took you ten minutes to see me go past. 'When the horses bowed down to me that I might choose, I bet on them all, for I hated to lose. Now I'm saddled each night for my butter and eggs And the broken threads race down the backs of my legs. 'Let you hold in mind, girls, that your beauty must pass Like a lovely white clover that rusts with its grass. Keep your bottoms off barstools and marry you young Or be left-an old barrel with many a bung. 'For when time takes you out for a spin in his car You'll be hard-pressed to stop him from going too far And be left by the roadside, for all your good deeds, Two toadstools for tits and a face full of weeds.' All the house raised a cheer, but the man at the bar Made a phone call and up pulled a red patrol car And she blew us a kiss as they copped her away From that prominent bar in Secaucus, N.J. Summary:The speaker of this poem is a woman in a bar. She is telling the other occupants of the bar about her life. She tells of how she used to be a 'lady' and had a very nice life. She had style and class. But as time went on her looks faded, her body changed, and people did not see her as they used to. She tells of how time takes you for a ride and there is no way to stop it. She is trying to tell young women that they may be beautiful and have class, but they may not have that always and may turn out just like her; in a bar with an aged body and no longer be a 'lady'. The theme of this poem is that through the course of life our lives change and people treat you differently as you become something you weren't before

In a prominent bar in Secaucus one day Rose a lady in skunk with a topheavy sway, Raised a knobby red finger-all turned from their beer- While with eyes bright as snowcrust she sang high and clear: 'Now who of you'd think from an eyeload of me That I once was a lady as proud as could be? Oh I'd never sit down by a tumbledown drunk If it wasn't, my dears, for the high cost of junk. 'All the gents used to swear that the white of my calf Beat the down of the swan by a length and a half. In the kerchief of linen I caught to my nose Ah, there never fell snot, but a little gold rose. 'I had seven gold teeth and a toothpick of gold, My Virginia cheroot was a leaf of it rolled And I'd light it each time with a thousand in cash- Why the bums used to fight if I flicked them an ash. 'Once the toast of the Biltmore, the belle of the Taft, I would drink bottle beer at the Drake, never draught, And dine at the Astor on Salisbury steak With a clean tablecloth for each bite I did take. 'In a car like the Roxy I'd roll to the track, A steel-guitar trio, a bar in the back, And the wheels made no noise, they turned ever so fast, Still it took you ten minutes to see me go past. 'When the horses bowed down to me that I might choose, I bet on them all, for I hated to lose. Now I'm saddled each night for my butter and eggs And the broken threads race down the backs of my legs. 'Let you hold in mind, girls, that your beauty must pass Like a lovely white clover that rusts with its grass. Keep your bottoms off barstools and marry you young Or be left-an old barrel with many a bung. 'For when time takes you out for a spin in his car You'll be hard-pressed to stop him from going too far And be left by the roadside, for all your good deeds, Two toadstools for tits and a face full of weeds.' All the house raised a cheer, but the man at the bar Made a phone call and up pulled a red patrol car And she blew us a kiss as they copped her away From that prominent bar in Secaucus, N.J. Summary:The speaker of this poem is a woman in a bar. She is telling the other occupants of the bar about her life. She tells of how she used to be a 'lady' and had a very nice life. She had style and class. But as time went on her looks faded, her body changed, and people did not see her as they used to. She tells of how time takes you for a ride and there is no way to stop it. She is trying to tell young women that they may be beautiful and have class, but they may not have that always and may turn out just like her; in a bar with an aged body and no longer be a 'lady'. The theme of this poem is that through the course of life our lives change and people treat you differently as you become something you weren't before

In a prominent bar in Secaucus one day Rose a lady in skunk with a topheavy sway, Raised a knobby red finger-all turned from their beer- While with eyes bright as snowcrust she sang high and clear: 'Now who of you'd think from an eyeload of me That I once was a lady as proud as could be? Oh I'd never sit down by a tumbledown drunk If it wasn't, my dears, for the high cost of junk. 'All the gents used to swear that the white of my calf Beat the down of the swan by a length and a half. In the kerchief of linen I caught to my nose Ah, there never fell snot, but a little gold rose. 'I had seven gold teeth and a toothpick of gold, My Virginia cheroot was a leaf of it rolled And I'd light it each time with a thousand in cash- Why the bums used to fight if I flicked them an ash. 'Once the toast of the Biltmore, the belle of the Taft, I would drink bottle beer at the Drake, never draught, And dine at the Astor on Salisbury steak With a clean tablecloth for each bite I did take. 'In a car like the Roxy I'd roll to the track, A steel-guitar trio, a bar in the back, And the wheels made no noise, they turned ever so fast, Still it took you ten minutes to see me go past. 'When the horses bowed down to me that I might choose, I bet on them all, for I hated to lose. Now I'm saddled each night for my butter and eggs And the broken threads race down the backs of my legs. 'Let you hold in mind, girls, that your beauty must pass Like a lovely white clover that rusts with its grass. Keep your bottoms off barstools and marry you young Or be left-an old barrel with many a bung. 'For when time takes you out for a spin in his car You'll be hard-pressed to stop him from going too far And be left by the roadside, for all your good deeds, Two toadstools for tits and a face full of weeds.' All the house raised a cheer, but the man at the bar Made a phone call and up pulled a red patrol car And she blew us a kiss as they copped her away From that prominent bar in Secaucus, N.J. Summary:The speaker of this poem is a woman in a bar. She is telling the other occupants of the bar about her life. She tells of how she used to be a 'lady' and had a very nice life. She had style and class. But as time went on her looks faded, her body changed, and people did not see her as they used to. She tells of how time takes you for a ride and there is no way to stop it. She is trying to tell young women that they may be beautiful and have class, but they may not have that always and may turn out just like her; in a bar with an aged body and no longer be a 'lady'. The theme of this poem is that through the course of life our lives change and people treat you differently as you become something you weren't before

In a prominent bar in Secaucus one day Rose a lady in skunk with a topheavy sway, Raised a knobby red finger-all turned from their beer- While with eyes bright as snowcrust she sang high and clear: 'Now who of you'd think from an eyeload of me That I once was a lady as proud as could be? Oh I'd never sit down by a tumbledown drunk If it wasn't, my dears, for the high cost of junk. 'All the gents used to swear that the white of my calf Beat the down of the swan by a length and a half. In the kerchief of linen I caught to my nose Ah, there never fell snot, but a little gold rose. 'I had seven gold teeth and a toothpick of gold, My Virginia cheroot was a leaf of it rolled And I'd light it each time with a thousand in cash- Why the bums used to fight if I flicked them an ash. 'Once the toast of the Biltmore, the belle of the Taft, I would drink bottle beer at the Drake, never draught, And dine at the Astor on Salisbury steak With a clean tablecloth for each bite I did take. 'In a car like the Roxy I'd roll to the track, A steel-guitar trio, a bar in the back, And the wheels made no noise, they turned ever so fast, Still it took you ten minutes to see me go past. 'When the horses bowed down to me that I might choose, I bet on them all, for I hated to lose. Now I'm saddled each night for my butter and eggs And the broken threads race down the backs of my legs. 'Let you hold in mind, girls, that your beauty must pass Like a lovely white clover that rusts with its grass. Keep your bottoms off barstools and marry you young Or be left-an old barrel with many a bung. 'For when time takes you out for a spin in his car You'll be hard-pressed to stop him from going too far And be left by the roadside, for all your good deeds, Two toadstools for tits and a face full of weeds.' All the house raised a cheer, but the man at the bar Made a phone call and up pulled a red patrol car And she blew us a kiss as they copped her away From that prominent bar in Secaucus, N.J. Summary:The speaker of this poem is a woman in a bar. She is telling the other occupants of the bar about her life. She tells of how she used to be a 'lady' and had a very nice life. She had style and class. But as time went on her looks faded, her body changed, and people did not see her as they used to. She tells of how time takes you for a ride and there is no way to stop it. She is trying to tell young women that they may be beautiful and have class, but they may not have that always and may turn out just like her; in a bar with an aged body and no longer be a 'lady'. The theme of this poem is that through the course of life our lives change and people treat you differently as you become something you weren't before

In a prominent bar in Secaucus one day Rose a lady in skunk with a topheavy sway, Raised a knobby red finger-all turned from their beer- While with eyes bright as snowcrust she sang high and clear: 'Now who of you'd think from an eyeload of me That I once was a lady as proud as could be? Oh I'd never sit down by a tumbledown drunk If it wasn't, my dears, for the high cost of junk. 'All the gents used to swear that the white of my calf Beat the down of the swan by a length and a half. In the kerchief of linen I caught to my nose Ah, there never fell snot, but a little gold rose. 'I had seven gold teeth and a toothpick of gold, My Virginia cheroot was a leaf of it rolled And I'd light it each time with a thousand in cash- Why the bums used to fight if I flicked them an ash. 'Once the toast of the Biltmore, the belle of the Taft, I would drink bottle beer at the Drake, never draught, And dine at the Astor on Salisbury steak With a clean tablecloth for each bite I did take. 'In a car like the Roxy I'd roll to the track, A steel-guitar trio, a bar in the back, And the wheels made no noise, they turned ever so fast, Still it took you ten minutes to see me go past. 'When the horses bowed down to me that I might choose, I bet on them all, for I hated to lose. Now I'm saddled each night for my butter and eggs And the broken threads race down the backs of my legs. 'Let you hold in mind, girls, that your beauty must pass Like a lovely white clover that rusts with its grass. Keep your bottoms off barstools and marry you young Or be left-an old barrel with many a bung. 'For when time takes you out for a spin in his car You'll be hard-pressed to stop him from going too far And be left by the roadside, for all your good deeds, Two toadstools for tits and a face full of weeds.' All the house raised a cheer, but the man at the bar Made a phone call and up pulled a red patrol car And she blew us a kiss as they copped her away From that prominent bar in Secaucus, N.J. Summary:The speaker of this poem is a woman in a bar. She is telling the other occupants of the bar about her life. She tells of how she used to be a 'lady' and had a very nice life. She had style and class. But as time went on her looks faded, her body changed, and people did not see her as they used to. She tells of how time takes you for a ride and there is no way to stop it. She is trying to tell young women that they may be beautiful and have class, but they may not have that always and may turn out just like her; in a bar with an aged body and no longer be a 'lady'. The theme of this poem is that through the course of life our lives change and people treat you differently as you become something you weren't before

In a prominent bar in Secaucus one day Rose a lady in skunk with a topheavy sway, Raised a knobby red finger-all turned from their beer- While with eyes bright as snowcrust she sang high and clear: 'Now who of you'd think from an eyeload of me That I once was a lady as proud as could be? Oh I'd never sit down by a tumbledown drunk If it wasn't, my dears, for the high cost of junk. 'All the gents used to swear that the white of my calf Beat the down of the swan by a length and a half. In the kerchief of linen I caught to my nose Ah, there never fell snot, but a little gold rose. 'I had seven gold teeth and a toothpick of gold, My Virginia cheroot was a leaf of it rolled And I'd light it each time with a thousand in cash- Why the bums used to fight if I flicked them an ash. 'Once the toast of the Biltmore, the belle of the Taft, I would drink bottle beer at the Drake, never draught, And dine at the Astor on Salisbury steak With a clean tablecloth for each bite I did take. 'In a car like the Roxy I'd roll to the track, A steel-guitar trio, a bar in the back, And the wheels made no noise, they turned ever so fast, Still it took you ten minutes to see me go past. 'When the horses bowed down to me that I might choose, I bet on them all, for I hated to lose. Now I'm saddled each night for my butter and eggs And the broken threads race down the backs of my legs. 'Let you hold in mind, girls, that your beauty must pass Like a lovely white clover that rusts with its grass. Keep your bottoms off barstools and marry you young Or be left-an old barrel with many a bung. 'For when time takes you out for a spin in his car You'll be hard-pressed to stop him from going too far And be left by the roadside, for all your good deeds, Two toadstools for tits and a face full of weeds.' All the house raised a cheer, but the man at the bar Made a phone call and up pulled a red patrol car And she blew us a kiss as they copped her away From that prominent bar in Secaucus, N.J. Summary:The speaker of this poem is a woman in a bar. She is telling the other occupants of the bar about her life. She tells of how she used to be a 'lady' and had a very nice life. She had style and class. But as time went on her looks faded, her body changed, and people did not see her as they used to. She tells of how time takes you for a ride and there is no way to stop it. She is trying to tell young women that they may be beautiful and have class, but they may not have that always and may turn out just like her; in a bar with an aged body and no longer be a 'lady'. The theme of this poem is that through the course of life our lives change and people treat you differently as you become something you weren't before

In a prominent bar in Secaucus one day Rose a lady in skunk with a topheavy sway, Raised a knobby red finger-all turned from their beer- While with eyes bright as snowcrust she sang high and clear: 'Now who of you'd think from an eyeload of me That I once was a lady as proud as could be? Oh I'd never sit down by a tumbledown drunk If it wasn't, my dears, for the high cost of junk. 'All the gents used to swear that the white of my calf Beat the down of the swan by a length and a half. In the kerchief of linen I caught to my nose Ah, there never fell snot, but a little gold rose. 'I had seven gold teeth and a toothpick of gold, My Virginia cheroot was a leaf of it rolled And I'd light it each time with a thousand in cash- Why the bums used to fight if I flicked them an ash. 'Once the toast of the Biltmore, the belle of the Taft, I would drink bottle beer at the Drake, never draught, And dine at the Astor on Salisbury steak With a clean tablecloth for each bite I did take. 'In a car like the Roxy I'd roll to the track, A steel-guitar trio, a bar in the back, And the wheels made no noise, they turned ever so fast, Still it took you ten minutes to see me go past. 'When the horses bowed down to me that I might choose, I bet on them all, for I hated to lose. Now I'm saddled each night for my butter and eggs And the broken threads race down the backs of my legs. 'Let you hold in mind, girls, that your beauty must pass Like a lovely white clover that rusts with its grass. Keep your bottoms off barstools and marry you young Or be left-an old barrel with many a bung. 'For when time takes you out for a spin in his car You'll be hard-pressed to stop him from going too far And be left by the roadside, for all your good deeds, Two toadstools for tits and a face full of weeds.' All the house raised a cheer, but the man at the bar Made a phone call and up pulled a red patrol car And she blew us a kiss as they copped her away From that prominent bar in Secaucus, N.J. Summary:The speaker of this poem is a woman in a bar. She is telling the other occupants of the bar about her life. She tells of how she used to be a 'lady' and had a very nice life. She had style and class. But as time went on her looks faded, her body changed, and people did not see her as they used to. She tells of how time takes you for a ride and there is no way to stop it. She is trying to tell young women that they may be beautiful and have class, but they may not have that always and may turn out just like her; in a bar with an aged body and no longer be a 'lady'. The theme of this poem is that through the course of life our lives change and people treat you differently as you become something you weren't before

In a prominent bar in Secaucus one day Rose a lady in skunk with a topheavy sway, Raised a knobby red finger-all turned from their beer- While with eyes bright as snowcrust she sang high and clear: 'Now who of you'd think from an eyeload of me That I once was a lady as proud as could be? Oh I'd never sit down by a tumbledown drunk If it wasn't, my dears, for the high cost of junk. 'All the gents used to swear that the white of my calf Beat the down of the swan by a length and a half. In the kerchief of linen I caught to my nose Ah, there never fell snot, but a little gold rose. 'I had seven gold teeth and a toothpick of gold, My Virginia cheroot was a leaf of it rolled And I'd light it each time with a thousand in cash- Why the bums used to fight if I flicked them an ash. 'Once the toast of the Biltmore, the belle of the Taft, I would drink bottle beer at the Drake, never draught, And dine at the Astor on Salisbury steak With a clean tablecloth for each bite I did take. 'In a car like the Roxy I'd roll to the track, A steel-guitar trio, a bar in the back, And the wheels made no noise, they turned ever so fast, Still it took you ten minutes to see me go past. 'When the horses bowed down to me that I might choose, I bet on them all, for I hated to lose. Now I'm saddled each night for my butter and eggs And the broken threads race down the backs of my legs. 'Let you hold in mind, girls, that your beauty must pass Like a lovely white clover that rusts with its grass. Keep your bottoms off barstools and marry you young Or be left-an old barrel with many a bung. 'For when time takes you out for a spin in his car You'll be hard-pressed to stop him from going too far And be left by the roadside, for all your good deeds, Two toadstools for tits and a face full of weeds.' All the house raised a cheer, but the man at the bar Made a phone call and up pulled a red patrol car And she blew us a kiss as they copped her away From that prominent bar in Secaucus, N.J. Summary:The speaker of this poem is a woman in a bar. She is telling the other occupants of the bar about her life. She tells of how she used to be a 'lady' and had a very nice life. She had style and class. But as time went on her looks faded, her body changed, and people did not see her as they used to. She tells of how time takes you for a ride and there is no way to stop it. She is trying to tell young women that they may be beautiful and have class, but they may not have that always and may turn out just like her; in a bar with an aged body and no longer be a 'lady'. The theme of this poem is that through the course of life our lives change and people treat you differently as you become something you weren't before

In a prominent bar in Secaucus one day Rose a lady in skunk with a topheavy sway, Raised a knobby red finger-all turned from their beer- While with eyes bright as snowcrust she sang high and clear: 'Now who of you'd think from an eyeload of me That I once was a lady as proud as could be? Oh I'd never sit down by a tumbledown drunk If it wasn't, my dears, for the high cost of junk. 'All the gents used to swear that the white of my calf Beat the down of the swan by a length and a half. In the kerchief of linen I caught to my nose Ah, there never fell snot, but a little gold rose. 'I had seven gold teeth and a toothpick of gold, My Virginia cheroot was a leaf of it rolled And I'd light it each time with a thousand in cash- Why the bums used to fight if I flicked them an ash. 'Once the toast of the Biltmore, the belle of the Taft, I would drink bottle beer at the Drake, never draught, And dine at the Astor on Salisbury steak With a clean tablecloth for each bite I did take. 'In a car like the Roxy I'd roll to the track, A steel-guitar trio, a bar in the back, And the wheels made no noise, they turned ever so fast, Still it took you ten minutes to see me go past. 'When the horses bowed down to me that I might choose, I bet on them all, for I hated to lose. Now I'm saddled each night for my butter and eggs And the broken threads race down the backs of my legs. 'Let you hold in mind, girls, that your beauty must pass Like a lovely white clover that rusts with its grass. Keep your bottoms off barstools and marry you young Or be left-an old barrel with many a bung. 'For when time takes you out for a spin in his car You'll be hard-pressed to stop him from going too far And be left by the roadside, for all your good deeds, Two toadstools for tits and a face full of weeds.' All the house raised a cheer, but the man at the bar Made a phone call and up pulled a red patrol car And she blew us a kiss as they copped her away From that prominent bar in Secaucus, N.J. Summary:The speaker of this poem is a woman in a bar. She is telling the other occupants of the bar about her life. She tells of how she used to be a 'lady' and had a very nice life. She had style and class. But as time went on her looks faded, her body changed, and people did not see her as they used to. She tells of how time takes you for a ride and there is no way to stop it. She is trying to tell young women that they may be beautiful and have class, but they may not have that always and may turn out just like her; in a bar with an aged body and no longer be a 'lady'. The theme of this poem is that through the course of life our lives change and people treat you differently as you become something you weren't before

In a prominent bar in Secaucus one day Rose a lady in skunk with a topheavy sway, Raised a knobby red finger-all turned from their beer- While with eyes bright as snowcrust she sang high and clear: 'Now who of you'd think from an eyeload of me That I once was a lady as proud as could be? Oh I'd never sit down by a tumbledown drunk If it wasn't, my dears, for the high cost of junk. 'All the gents used to swear that the white of my calf Beat the down of the swan by a length and a half. In the kerchief of linen I caught to my nose Ah, there never fell snot, but a little gold rose. 'I had seven gold teeth and a toothpick of gold, My Virginia cheroot was a leaf of it rolled And I'd light it each time with a thousand in cash- Why the bums used to fight if I flicked them an ash. 'Once the toast of the Biltmore, the belle of the Taft, I would drink bottle beer at the Drake, never draught, And dine at the Astor on Salisbury steak With a clean tablecloth for each bite I did take. 'In a car like the Roxy I'd roll to the track, A steel-guitar trio, a bar in the back, And the wheels made no noise, they turned ever so fast, Still it took you ten minutes to see me go past. 'When the horses bowed down to me that I might choose, I bet on them all, for I hated to lose. Now I'm saddled each night for my butter and eggs And the broken threads race down the backs of my legs. 'Let you hold in mind, girls, that your beauty must pass Like a lovely white clover that rusts with its grass. Keep your bottoms off barstools and marry you young Or be left-an old barrel with many a bung. 'For when time takes you out for a spin in his car You'll be hard-pressed to stop him from going too far And be left by the roadside, for all your good deeds, Two toadstools for tits and a face full of weeds.' All the house raised a cheer, but the man at the bar Made a phone call and up pulled a red patrol car And she blew us a kiss as they copped her away From that prominent bar in Secaucus, N.J. Summary:The speaker of this poem is a woman in a bar. She is telling the other occupants of the bar about her life. She tells of how she used to be a 'lady' and had a very nice life. She had style and class. But as time went on her looks faded, her body changed, and people did not see her as they used to. She tells of how time takes you for a ride and there is no way to stop it. She is trying to tell young women that they may be beautiful and have class, but they may not have that always and may turn out just like her; in a bar with an aged body and no longer be a 'lady'. The theme of this poem is that through the course of life our lives change and people treat you differently as you become something you weren't before

In a prominent bar in Secaucus one day Rose a lady in skunk with a topheavy sway, Raised a knobby red finger-all turned from their beer- While with eyes bright as snowcrust she sang high and clear: 'Now who of you'd think from an eyeload of me That I once was a lady as proud as could be? Oh I'd never sit down by a tumbledown drunk If it wasn't, my dears, for the high cost of junk. 'All the gents used to swear that the white of my calf Beat the down of the swan by a length and a half. In the kerchief of linen I caught to my nose Ah, there never fell snot, but a little gold rose. 'I had seven gold teeth and a toothpick of gold, My Virginia cheroot was a leaf of it rolled And I'd light it each time with a thousand in cash- Why the bums used to fight if I flicked them an ash. 'Once the toast of the Biltmore, the belle of the Taft, I would drink bottle beer at the Drake, never draught, And dine at the Astor on Salisbury steak With a clean tablecloth for each bite I did take. 'In a car like the Roxy I'd roll to the track, A steel-guitar trio, a bar in the back, And the wheels made no noise, they turned ever so fast, Still it took you ten minutes to see me go past. 'When the horses bowed down to me that I might choose, I bet on them all, for I hated to lose. Now I'm saddled each night for my butter and eggs And the broken threads race down the backs of my legs. 'Let you hold in mind, girls, that your beauty must pass Like a lovely white clover that rusts with its grass. Keep your bottoms off barstools and marry you young Or be left-an old barrel with many a bung. 'For when time takes you out for a spin in his car You'll be hard-pressed to stop him from going too far And be left by the roadside, for all your good deeds, Two toadstools for tits and a face full of weeds.' All the house raised a cheer, but the man at the bar Made a phone call and up pulled a red patrol car And she blew us a kiss as they copped her away From that prominent bar in Secaucus, N.J. Summary:The speaker of this poem is a woman in a bar. She is telling the other occupants of the bar about her life. She tells of how she used to be a 'lady' and had a very nice life. She had style and class. But as time went on her looks faded, her body changed, and people did not see her as they used to. She tells of how time takes you for a ride and there is no way to stop it. She is trying to tell young women that they may be beautiful and have class, but they may not have that always and may turn out just like her; in a bar with an aged body and no longer be a 'lady'. The theme of this poem is that through the course of life our lives change and people treat you differently as you become something you weren't before

In a prominent bar in Secaucus one day Rose a lady in skunk with a topheavy sway, Raised a knobby red finger-all turned from their beer- While with eyes bright as snowcrust she sang high and clear: 'Now who of you'd think from an eyeload of me That I once was a lady as proud as could be? Oh I'd never sit down by a tumbledown drunk If it wasn't, my dears, for the high cost of junk. 'All the gents used to swear that the white of my calf Beat the down of the swan by a length and a half. In the kerchief of linen I caught to my nose Ah, there never fell snot, but a little gold rose. 'I had seven gold teeth and a toothpick of gold, My Virginia cheroot was a leaf of it rolled And I'd light it each time with a thousand in cash- Why the bums used to fight if I flicked them an ash. 'Once the toast of the Biltmore, the belle of the Taft, I would drink bottle beer at the Drake, never draught, And dine at the Astor on Salisbury steak With a clean tablecloth for each bite I did take. 'In a car like the Roxy I'd roll to the track, A steel-guitar trio, a bar in the back, And the wheels made no noise, they turned ever so fast, Still it took you ten minutes to see me go past. 'When the horses bowed down to me that I might choose, I bet on them all, for I hated to lose. Now I'm saddled each night for my butter and eggs And the broken threads race down the backs of my legs. 'Let you hold in mind, girls, that your beauty must pass Like a lovely white clover that rusts with its grass. Keep your bottoms off barstools and marry you young Or be left-an old barrel with many a bung. 'For when time takes you out for a spin in his car You'll be hard-pressed to stop him from going too far And be left by the roadside, for all your good deeds, Two toadstools for tits and a face full of weeds.' All the house raised a cheer, but the man at the bar Made a phone call and up pulled a red patrol car And she blew us a kiss as they copped her away From that prominent bar in Secaucus, N.J. Summary:The speaker of this poem is a woman in a bar. She is telling the other occupants of the bar about her life. She tells of how she used to be a 'lady' and had a very nice life. She had style and class. But as time went on her looks faded, her body changed, and people did not see her as they used to. She tells of how time takes you for a ride and there is no way to stop it. She is trying to tell young women that they may be beautiful and have class, but they may not have that always and may turn out just like her; in a bar with an aged body and no longer be a 'lady'. The theme of this poem is that through the course of life our lives change and people treat you differently as you become something you weren't before

In a prominent bar in Secaucus one day Rose a lady in skunk with a topheavy sway, Raised a knobby red finger-all turned from their beer- While with eyes bright as snowcrust she sang high and clear: 'Now who of you'd think from an eyeload of me That I once was a lady as proud as could be? Oh I'd never sit down by a tumbledown drunk If it wasn't, my dears, for the high cost of junk. 'All the gents used to swear that the white of my calf Beat the down of the swan by a length and a half. In the kerchief of linen I caught to my nose Ah, there never fell snot, but a little gold rose. 'I had seven gold teeth and a toothpick of gold, My Virginia cheroot was a leaf of it rolled And I'd light it each time with a thousand in cash- Why the bums used to fight if I flicked them an ash. 'Once the toast of the Biltmore, the belle of the Taft, I would drink bottle beer at the Drake, never draught, And dine at the Astor on Salisbury steak With a clean tablecloth for each bite I did take. 'In a car like the Roxy I'd roll to the track, A steel-guitar trio, a bar in the back, And the wheels made no noise, they turned ever so fast, Still it took you ten minutes to see me go past. 'When the horses bowed down to me that I might choose, I bet on them all, for I hated to lose. Now I'm saddled each night for my butter and eggs And the broken threads race down the backs of my legs. 'Let you hold in mind, girls, that your beauty must pass Like a lovely white clover that rusts with its grass. Keep your bottoms off barstools and marry you young Or be left-an old barrel with many a bung. 'For when time takes you out for a spin in his car You'll be hard-pressed to stop him from going too far And be left by the roadside, for all your good deeds, Two toadstools for tits and a face full of weeds.' All the house raised a cheer, but the man at the bar Made a phone call and up pulled a red patrol car And she blew us a kiss as they copped her away From that prominent bar in Secaucus, N.J. Summary:The speaker of this poem is a woman in a bar. She is telling the other occupants of the bar about her life. She tells of how she used to be a 'lady' and had a very nice life. She had style and class. But as time went on her looks faded, her body changed, and people did not see her as they used to. She tells of how time takes you for a ride and there is no way to stop it. She is trying to tell young women that they may be beautiful and have class, but they may not have that always and may turn out just like her; in a bar with an aged body and no longer be a 'lady'. The theme of this poem is that through the course of life our lives change and people treat you differently as you become something you weren't before

In a prominent bar in Secaucus one day Rose a lady in skunk with a topheavy sway, Raised a knobby red finger-all turned from their beer- While with eyes bright as snowcrust she sang high and clear: 'Now who of you'd think from an eyeload of me That I once was a lady as proud as could be? Oh I'd never sit down by a tumbledown drunk If it wasn't, my dears, for the high cost of junk. 'All the gents used to swear that the white of my calf Beat the down of the swan by a length and a half. In the kerchief of linen I caught to my nose Ah, there never fell snot, but a little gold rose. 'I had seven gold teeth and a toothpick of gold, My Virginia cheroot was a leaf of it rolled And I'd light it each time with a thousand in cash- Why the bums used to fight if I flicked them an ash. 'Once the toast of the Biltmore, the belle of the Taft, I would drink bottle beer at the Drake, never draught, And dine at the Astor on Salisbury steak With a clean tablecloth for each bite I did take. 'In a car like the Roxy I'd roll to the track, A steel-guitar trio, a bar in the back, And the wheels made no noise, they turned ever so fast, Still it took you ten minutes to see me go past. 'When the horses bowed down to me that I might choose, I bet on them all, for I hated to lose. Now I'm saddled each night for my butter and eggs And the broken threads race down the backs of my legs. 'Let you hold in mind, girls, that your beauty must pass Like a lovely white clover that rusts with its grass. Keep your bottoms off barstools and marry you young Or be left-an old barrel with many a bung. 'For when time takes you out for a spin in his car You'll be hard-pressed to stop him from going too far And be left by the roadside, for all your good deeds, Two toadstools for tits and a face full of weeds.' All the house raised a cheer, but the man at the bar Made a phone call and up pulled a red patrol car And she blew us a kiss as they copped her away From that prominent bar in Secaucus, N.J. Summary:The speaker of this poem is a woman in a bar. She is telling the other occupants of the bar about her life. She tells of how she used to be a 'lady' and had a very nice life. She had style and class. But as time went on her looks faded, her body changed, and people did not see her as they used to. She tells of how time takes you for a ride and there is no way to stop it. She is trying to tell young women that they may be beautiful and have class, but they may not have that always and may turn out just like her; in a bar with an aged body and no longer be a 'lady'. The theme of this poem is that through the course of life our lives change and people treat you differently as you become something you weren't before

In a prominent bar in Secaucus one day Rose a lady in skunk with a topheavy sway, Raised a knobby red finger-all turned from their beer- While with eyes bright as snowcrust she sang high and clear: 'Now who of you'd think from an eyeload of me That I once was a lady as proud as could be? Oh I'd never sit down by a tumbledown drunk If it wasn't, my dears, for the high cost of junk. 'All the gents used to swear that the white of my calf Beat the down of the swan by a length and a half. In the kerchief of linen I caught to my nose Ah, there never fell snot, but a little gold rose. 'I had seven gold teeth and a toothpick of gold, My Virginia cheroot was a leaf of it rolled And I'd light it each time with a thousand in cash- Why the bums used to fight if I flicked them an ash. 'Once the toast of the Biltmore, the belle of the Taft, I would drink bottle beer at the Drake, never draught, And dine at the Astor on Salisbury steak With a clean tablecloth for each bite I did take. 'In a car like the Roxy I'd roll to the track, A steel-guitar trio, a bar in the back, And the wheels made no noise, they turned ever so fast, Still it took you ten minutes to see me go past. 'When the horses bowed down to me that I might choose, I bet on them all, for I hated to lose. Now I'm saddled each night for my butter and eggs And the broken threads race down the backs of my legs. 'Let you hold in mind, girls, that your beauty must pass Like a lovely white clover that rusts with its grass. Keep your bottoms off barstools and marry you young Or be left-an old barrel with many a bung. 'For when time takes you out for a spin in his car You'll be hard-pressed to stop him from going too far And be left by the roadside, for all your good deeds, Two toadstools for tits and a face full of weeds.' All the house raised a cheer, but the man at the bar Made a phone call and up pulled a red patrol car And she blew us a kiss as they copped her away From that prominent bar in Secaucus, N.J. Summary:The speaker of this poem is a woman in a bar. She is telling the other occupants of the bar about her life. She tells of how she used to be a 'lady' and had a very nice life. She had style and class. But as time went on her looks faded, her body changed, and people did not see her as they used to. She tells of how time takes you for a ride and there is no way to stop it. She is trying to tell young women that they may be beautiful and have class, but they may not have that always and may turn out just like her; in a bar with an aged body and no longer be a 'lady'. The theme of this poem is that through the course of life our lives change and people treat you differently as you become something you weren't before

In a prominent bar in Secaucus one day Rose a lady in skunk with a topheavy sway, Raised a knobby red finger-all turned from their beer- While with eyes bright as snowcrust she sang high and clear: 'Now who of you'd think from an eyeload of me That I once was a lady as proud as could be? Oh I'd never sit down by a tumbledown drunk If it wasn't, my dears, for the high cost of junk. 'All the gents used to swear that the white of my calf Beat the down of the swan by a length and a half. In the kerchief of linen I caught to my nose Ah, there never fell snot, but a little gold rose. 'I had seven gold teeth and a toothpick of gold, My Virginia cheroot was a leaf of it rolled And I'd light it each time with a thousand in cash- Why the bums used to fight if I flicked them an ash. 'Once the toast of the Biltmore, the belle of the Taft, I would drink bottle beer at the Drake, never draught, And dine at the Astor on Salisbury steak With a clean tablecloth for each bite I did take. 'In a car like the Roxy I'd roll to the track, A steel-guitar trio, a bar in the back, And the wheels made no noise, they turned ever so fast, Still it took you ten minutes to see me go past. 'When the horses bowed down to me that I might choose, I bet on them all, for I hated to lose. Now I'm saddled each night for my butter and eggs And the broken threads race down the backs of my legs. 'Let you hold in mind, girls, that your beauty must pass Like a lovely white clover that rusts with its grass. Keep your bottoms off barstools and marry you young Or be left-an old barrel with many a bung. 'For when time takes you out for a spin in his car You'll be hard-pressed to stop him from going too far And be left by the roadside, for all your good deeds, Two toadstools for tits and a face full of weeds.' All the house raised a cheer, but the man at the bar Made a phone call and up pulled a red patrol car And she blew us a kiss as they copped her away From that prominent bar in Secaucus, N.J. Summary:The speaker of this poem is a woman in a bar. She is telling the other occupants of the bar about her life. She tells of how she used to be a 'lady' and had a very nice life. She had style and class. But as time went on her looks faded, her body changed, and people did not see her as they used to. She tells of how time takes you for a ride and there is no way to stop it. She is trying to tell young women that they may be beautiful and have class, but they may not have that always and may turn out just like her; in a bar with an aged body and no longer be a 'lady'. The theme of this poem is that through the course of life our lives change and people treat you differently as you become something you weren't before

In a prominent bar in Secaucus one day Rose a lady in skunk with a topheavy sway, Raised a knobby red finger-all turned from their beer- While with eyes bright as snowcrust she sang high and clear: 'Now who of you'd think from an eyeload of me That I once was a lady as proud as could be? Oh I'd never sit down by a tumbledown drunk If it wasn't, my dears, for the high cost of junk. 'All the gents used to swear that the white of my calf Beat the down of the swan by a length and a half. In the kerchief of linen I caught to my nose Ah, there never fell snot, but a little gold rose. 'I had seven gold teeth and a toothpick of gold, My Virginia cheroot was a leaf of it rolled And I'd light it each time with a thousand in cash- Why the bums used to fight if I flicked them an ash. 'Once the toast of the Biltmore, the belle of the Taft, I would drink bottle beer at the Drake, never draught, And dine at the Astor on Salisbury steak With a clean tablecloth for each bite I did take. 'In a car like the Roxy I'd roll to the track, A steel-guitar trio, a bar in the back, And the wheels made no noise, they turned ever so fast, Still it took you ten minutes to see me go past. 'When the horses bowed down to me that I might choose, I bet on them all, for I hated to lose. Now I'm saddled each night for my butter and eggs And the broken threads race down the backs of my legs. 'Let you hold in mind, girls, that your beauty must pass Like a lovely white clover that rusts with its grass. Keep your bottoms off barstools and marry you young Or be left-an old barrel with many a bung. 'For when time takes you out for a spin in his car You'll be hard-pressed to stop him from going too far And be left by the roadside, for all your good deeds, Two toadstools for tits and a face full of weeds.' All the house raised a cheer, but the man at the bar Made a phone call and up pulled a red patrol car And she blew us a kiss as they copped her away From that prominent bar in Secaucus, N.J. Summary:The speaker of this poem is a woman in a bar. She is telling the other occupants of the bar about her life. She tells of how she used to be a 'lady' and had a very nice life. She had style and class. But as time went on her looks faded, her body changed, and people did not see her as they used to. She tells of how time takes you for a ride and there is no way to stop it. She is trying to tell young women that they may be beautiful and have class, but they may not have that always and may turn out just like her; in a bar with an aged body and no longer be a 'lady'. The theme of this poem is that through the course of life our lives change and people treat you differently as you become something you weren't before

In a prominent bar in Secaucus one day Rose a lady in skunk with a topheavy sway, Raised a knobby red finger-all turned from their beer- While with eyes bright as snowcrust she sang high and clear: 'Now who of you'd think from an eyeload of me That I once was a lady as proud as could be? Oh I'd never sit down by a tumbledown drunk If it wasn't, my dears, for the high cost of junk. 'All the gents used to swear that the white of my calf Beat the down of the swan by a length and a half. In the kerchief of linen I caught to my nose Ah, there never fell snot, but a little gold rose. 'I had seven gold teeth and a toothpick of gold, My Virginia cheroot was a leaf of it rolled And I'd light it each time with a thousand in cash- Why the bums used to fight if I flicked them an ash. 'Once the toast of the Biltmore, the belle of the Taft, I would drink bottle beer at the Drake, never draught, And dine at the Astor on Salisbury steak With a clean tablecloth for each bite I did take. 'In a car like the Roxy I'd roll to the track, A steel-guitar trio, a bar in the back, And the wheels made no noise, they turned ever so fast, Still it took you ten minutes to see me go past. 'When the horses bowed down to me that I might choose, I bet on them all, for I hated to lose. Now I'm saddled each night for my butter and eggs And the broken threads race down the backs of my legs. 'Let you hold in mind, girls, that your beauty must pass Like a lovely white clover that rusts with its grass. Keep your bottoms off barstools and marry you young Or be left-an old barrel with many a bung. 'For when time takes you out for a spin in his car You'll be hard-pressed to stop him from going too far And be left by the roadside, for all your good deeds, Two toadstools for tits and a face full of weeds.' All the house raised a cheer, but the man at the bar Made a phone call and up pulled a red patrol car And she blew us a kiss as they copped her away From that prominent bar in Secaucus, N.J. Summary:The speaker of this poem is a woman in a bar. She is telling the other occupants of the bar about her life. She tells of how she used to be a 'lady' and had a very nice life. She had style and class. But as time went on her looks faded, her body changed, and people did not see her as they used to. She tells of how time takes you for a ride and there is no way to stop it. She is trying to tell young women that they may be beautiful and have class, but they may not have that always and may turn out just like her; in a bar with an aged body and no longer be a 'lady'. The theme of this poem is that through the course of life our lives change and people treat you differently as you become something you weren't before

In a prominent bar in Secaucus one day Rose a lady in skunk with a topheavy sway, Raised a knobby red finger-all turned from their beer- While with eyes bright as snowcrust she sang high and clear: 'Now who of you'd think from an eyeload of me That I once was a lady as proud as could be? Oh I'd never sit down by a tumbledown drunk If it wasn't, my dears, for the high cost of junk. 'All the gents used to swear that the white of my calf Beat the down of the swan by a length and a half. In the kerchief of linen I caught to my nose Ah, there never fell snot, but a little gold rose. 'I had seven gold teeth and a toothpick of gold, My Virginia cheroot was a leaf of it rolled And I'd light it each time with a thousand in cash- Why the bums used to fight if I flicked them an ash. 'Once the toast of the Biltmore, the belle of the Taft, I would drink bottle beer at the Drake, never draught, And dine at the Astor on Salisbury steak With a clean tablecloth for each bite I did take. 'In a car like the Roxy I'd roll to the track, A steel-guitar trio, a bar in the back, And the wheels made no noise, they turned ever so fast, Still it took you ten minutes to see me go past. 'When the horses bowed down to me that I might choose, I bet on them all, for I hated to lose. Now I'm saddled each night for my butter and eggs And the broken threads race down the backs of my legs. 'Let you hold in mind, girls, that your beauty must pass Like a lovely white clover that rusts with its grass. Keep your bottoms off barstools and marry you young Or be left-an old barrel with many a bung. 'For when time takes you out for a spin in his car You'll be hard-pressed to stop him from going too far And be left by the roadside, for all your good deeds, Two toadstools for tits and a face full of weeds.' All the house raised a cheer, but the man at the bar Made a phone call and up pulled a red patrol car And she blew us a kiss as they copped her away From that prominent bar in Secaucus, N.J. Summary:The speaker of this poem is a woman in a bar. She is telling the other occupants of the bar about her life. She tells of how she used to be a 'lady' and had a very nice life. She had style and class. But as time went on her looks faded, her body changed, and people did not see her as they used to. She tells of how time takes you for a ride and there is no way to stop it. She is trying to tell young women that they may be beautiful and have class, but they may not have that always and may turn out just like her; in a bar with an aged body and no longer be a 'lady'. The theme of this poem is that through the course of life our lives change and people treat you differently as you become something you weren't before

In a prominent bar in Secaucus one day Rose a lady in skunk with a topheavy sway, Raised a knobby red finger-all turned from their beer- While with eyes bright as snowcrust she sang high and clear: 'Now who of you'd think from an eyeload of me That I once was a lady as proud as could be? Oh I'd never sit down by a tumbledown drunk If it wasn't, my dears, for the high cost of junk. 'All the gents used to swear that the white of my calf Beat the down of the swan by a length and a half. In the kerchief of linen I caught to my nose Ah, there never fell snot, but a little gold rose. 'I had seven gold teeth and a toothpick of gold, My Virginia cheroot was a leaf of it rolled And I'd light it each time with a thousand in cash- Why the bums used to fight if I flicked them an ash. 'Once the toast of the Biltmore, the belle of the Taft, I would drink bottle beer at the Drake, never draught, And dine at the Astor on Salisbury steak With a clean tablecloth for each bite I did take. 'In a car like the Roxy I'd roll to the track, A steel-guitar trio, a bar in the back, And the wheels made no noise, they turned ever so fast, Still it took you ten minutes to see me go past. 'When the horses bowed down to me that I might choose, I bet on them all, for I hated to lose. Now I'm saddled each night for my butter and eggs And the broken threads race down the backs of my legs. 'Let you hold in mind, girls, that your beauty must pass Like a lovely white clover that rusts with its grass. Keep your bottoms off barstools and marry you young Or be left-an old barrel with many a bung. 'For when time takes you out for a spin in his car You'll be hard-pressed to stop him from going too far And be left by the roadside, for all your good deeds, Two toadstools for tits and a face full of weeds.' All the house raised a cheer, but the man at the bar Made a phone call and up pulled a red patrol car And she blew us a kiss as they copped her away From that prominent bar in Secaucus, N.J. Summary:The speaker of this poem is a woman in a bar. She is telling the other occupants of the bar about her life. She tells of how she used to be a 'lady' and had a very nice life. She had style and class. But as time went on her looks faded, her body changed, and people did not see her as they used to. She tells of how time takes you for a ride and there is no way to stop it. She is trying to tell young women that they may be beautiful and have class, but they may not have that always and may turn out just like her; in a bar with an aged body and no longer be a 'lady'. The theme of this poem is that through the course of life our lives change and people treat you differently as you become something you weren't before

In a prominent bar in Secaucus one day Rose a lady in skunk with a topheavy sway, Raised a knobby red finger-all turned from their beer- While with eyes bright as snowcrust she sang high and clear: 'Now who of you'd think from an eyeload of me That I once was a lady as proud as could be? Oh I'd never sit down by a tumbledown drunk If it wasn't, my dears, for the high cost of junk. 'All the gents used to swear that the white of my calf Beat the down of the swan by a length and a half. In the kerchief of linen I caught to my nose Ah, there never fell snot, but a little gold rose. 'I had seven gold teeth and a toothpick of gold, My Virginia cheroot was a leaf of it rolled And I'd light it each time with a thousand in cash- Why the bums used to fight if I flicked them an ash. 'Once the toast of the Biltmore, the belle of the Taft, I would drink bottle beer at the Drake, never draught, And dine at the Astor on Salisbury steak With a clean tablecloth for each bite I did take. 'In a car like the Roxy I'd roll to the track, A steel-guitar trio, a bar in the back, And the wheels made no noise, they turned ever so fast, Still it took you ten minutes to see me go past. 'When the horses bowed down to me that I might choose, I bet on them all, for I hated to lose. Now I'm saddled each night for my butter and eggs And the broken threads race down the backs of my legs. 'Let you hold in mind, girls, that your beauty must pass Like a lovely white clover that rusts with its grass. Keep your bottoms off barstools and marry you young Or be left-an old barrel with many a bung. 'For when time takes you out for a spin in his car You'll be hard-pressed to stop him from going too far And be left by the roadside, for all your good deeds, Two toadstools for tits and a face full of weeds.' All the house raised a cheer, but the man at the bar Made a phone call and up pulled a red patrol car And she blew us a kiss as they copped her away From that prominent bar in Secaucus, N.J. Summary:The speaker of this poem is a woman in a bar. She is telling the other occupants of the bar about her life. She tells of how she used to be a 'lady' and had a very nice life. She had style and class. But as time went on her looks faded, her body changed, and people did not see her as they used to. She tells of how time takes you for a ride and there is no way to stop it. She is trying to tell young women that they may be beautiful and have class, but they may not have that always and may turn out just like her; in a bar with an aged body and no longer be a 'lady'. The theme of this poem is that through the course of life our lives change and people treat you differently as you become something you weren't before

In a prominent bar in Secaucus one day Rose a lady in skunk with a topheavy sway, Raised a knobby red finger-all turned from their beer- While with eyes bright as snowcrust she sang high and clear: 'Now who of you'd think from an eyeload of me That I once was a lady as proud as could be? Oh I'd never sit down by a tumbledown drunk If it wasn't, my dears, for the high cost of junk. 'All the gents used to swear that the white of my calf Beat the down of the swan by a length and a half. In the kerchief of linen I caught to my nose Ah, there never fell snot, but a little gold rose. 'I had seven gold teeth and a toothpick of gold, My Virginia cheroot was a leaf of it rolled And I'd light it each time with a thousand in cash- Why the bums used to fight if I flicked them an ash. 'Once the toast of the Biltmore, the belle of the Taft, I would drink bottle beer at the Drake, never draught, And dine at the Astor on Salisbury steak With a clean tablecloth for each bite I did take. 'In a car like the Roxy I'd roll to the track, A steel-guitar trio, a bar in the back, And the wheels made no noise, they turned ever so fast, Still it took you ten minutes to see me go past. 'When the horses bowed down to me that I might choose, I bet on them all, for I hated to lose. Now I'm saddled each night for my butter and eggs And the broken threads race down the backs of my legs. 'Let you hold in mind, girls, that your beauty must pass Like a lovely white clover that rusts with its grass. Keep your bottoms off barstools and marry you young Or be left-an old barrel with many a bung. 'For when time takes you out for a spin in his car You'll be hard-pressed to stop him from going too far And be left by the roadside, for all your good deeds, Two toadstools for tits and a face full of weeds.' All the house raised a cheer, but the man at the bar Made a phone call and up pulled a red patrol car And she blew us a kiss as they copped her away From that prominent bar in Secaucus, N.J. Summary:The speaker of this poem is a woman in a bar. She is telling the other occupants of the bar about her life. She tells of how she used to be a 'lady' and had a very nice life. She had style and class. But as time went on her looks faded, her body changed, and people did not see her as they used to. She tells of how time takes you for a ride and there is no way to stop it. She is trying to tell young women that they may be beautiful and have class, but they may not have that always and may turn out just like her; in a bar with an aged body and no longer be a 'lady'. The theme of this poem is that through the course of life our lives change and people treat you differently as you become something you weren't before

In a prominent bar in Secaucus one day Rose a lady in skunk with a topheavy sway, Raised a knobby red finger-all turned from their beer- While with eyes bright as snowcrust she sang high and clear: 'Now who of you'd think from an eyeload of me That I once was a lady as proud as could be? Oh I'd never sit down by a tumbledown drunk If it wasn't, my dears, for the high cost of junk. 'All the gents used to swear that the white of my calf Beat the down of the swan by a length and a half. In the kerchief of linen I caught to my nose Ah, there never fell snot, but a little gold rose. 'I had seven gold teeth and a toothpick of gold, My Virginia cheroot was a leaf of it rolled And I'd light it each time with a thousand in cash- Why the bums used to fight if I flicked them an ash. 'Once the toast of the Biltmore, the belle of the Taft, I would drink bottle beer at the Drake, never draught, And dine at the Astor on Salisbury steak With a clean tablecloth for each bite I did take. 'In a car like the Roxy I'd roll to the track, A steel-guitar trio, a bar in the back, And the wheels made no noise, they turned ever so fast, Still it took you ten minutes to see me go past. 'When the horses bowed down to me that I might choose, I bet on them all, for I hated to lose. Now I'm saddled each night for my butter and eggs And the broken threads race down the backs of my legs. 'Let you hold in mind, girls, that your beauty must pass Like a lovely white clover that rusts with its grass. Keep your bottoms off barstools and marry you young Or be left-an old barrel with many a bung. 'For when time takes you out for a spin in his car You'll be hard-pressed to stop him from going too far And be left by the roadside, for all your good deeds, Two toadstools for tits and a face full of weeds.' All the house raised a cheer, but the man at the bar Made a phone call and up pulled a red patrol car And she blew us a kiss as they copped her away From that prominent bar in Secaucus, N.J. Summary:The speaker of this poem is a woman in a bar. She is telling the other occupants of the bar about her life. She tells of how she used to be a 'lady' and had a very nice life. She had style and class. But as time went on her looks faded, her body changed, and people did not see her as they used to. She tells of how time takes you for a ride and there is no way to stop it. She is trying to tell young women that they may be beautiful and have class, but they may not have that always and may turn out just like her; in a bar with an aged body and no longer be a 'lady'. The theme of this poem is that through the course of life our lives change and people treat you differently as you become something you weren't before

In a prominent bar in Secaucus one day Rose a lady in skunk with a topheavy sway, Raised a knobby red finger-all turned from their beer- While with eyes bright as snowcrust she sang high and clear: 'Now who of you'd think from an eyeload of me That I once was a lady as proud as could be? Oh I'd never sit down by a tumbledown drunk If it wasn't, my dears, for the high cost of junk. 'All the gents used to swear that the white of my calf Beat the down of the swan by a length and a half. In the kerchief of linen I caught to my nose Ah, there never fell snot, but a little gold rose. 'I had seven gold teeth and a toothpick of gold, My Virginia cheroot was a leaf of it rolled And I'd light it each time with a thousand in cash- Why the bums used to fight if I flicked them an ash. 'Once the toast of the Biltmore, the belle of the Taft, I would drink bottle beer at the Drake, never draught, And dine at the Astor on Salisbury steak With a clean tablecloth for each bite I did take. 'In a car like the Roxy I'd roll to the track, A steel-guitar trio, a bar in the back, And the wheels made no noise, they turned ever so fast, Still it took you ten minutes to see me go past. 'When the horses bowed down to me that I might choose, I bet on them all, for I hated to lose. Now I'm saddled each night for my butter and eggs And the broken threads race down the backs of my legs. 'Let you hold in mind, girls, that your beauty must pass Like a lovely white clover that rusts with its grass. Keep your bottoms off barstools and marry you young Or be left-an old barrel with many a bung. 'For when time takes you out for a spin in his car You'll be hard-pressed to stop him from going too far And be left by the roadside, for all your good deeds, Two toadstools for tits and a face full of weeds.' All the house raised a cheer, but the man at the bar Made a phone call and up pulled a red patrol car And she blew us a kiss as they copped her away From that prominent bar in Secaucus, N.J. Summary:The speaker of this poem is a woman in a bar. She is telling the other occupants of the bar about her life. She tells of how she used to be a 'lady' and had a very nice life. She had style and class. But as time went on her looks faded, her body changed, and people did not see her as they used to. She tells of how time takes you for a ride and there is no way to stop it. She is trying to tell young women that they may be beautiful and have class, but they may not have that always and may turn out just like her; in a bar with an aged body and no longer be a 'lady'. The theme of this poem is that through the course of life our lives change and people treat you differently as you become something you weren't before