Matinée

The poet stood reciting

Examples of his art,

Considering removing

The veils about his heart.

Eager and self-revealing,

He did his stripping well,

With every burning poem

Another garment fell.

With passionate abandon

He flung each cloth away;

Exulting in the pleasure

Of noble self-display.

Until upon the platform

Were piled his draperies.

And still the poet gestured,

Naked and quite at ease.

And no one screamed or fainted;

There was no stir or start.

The ladies all applauded

At such a show of art.