| Thomas R. Lounsbury, ed. (1838–1915). Yale Book of American Verse. 1912. |
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| Oliver Wendell Holmes. 1809–1894 |
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| 95. To the Portrait of "A Lady" |
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| In the Athenæum Gallery |
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| WELL, Miss, I wonder where you live, | |
| I wonder what 's your name, | |
| I wonder how you came to be | |
| In such a stylish frame; | |
| Perhaps you were a favorite child, | 5 |
| Perhaps an only one; | |
| Perhaps your friends were not aware | |
| You had your portrait done! | |
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| Yet you must be a harmless soul; | |
| I cannot think that Sin | 10 |
| Would care to throw his loaded dice, | |
| With such a stake to win; | |
| I cannot think you would provoke | |
| The poet's wicked pen, | |
| Or make young women bite their lips, | 15 |
| Or ruin fine young men. | |
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| Pray, did you ever hear, my love, | |
| Of boys that go about, | |
| Who, for a very trifling sum, | |
| Will snip one's picture out? | 20 |
| I 'm not averse to red and white, | |
| But all things have their place, | |
| I think a profile cut in black | |
| Would suit your style of face! | |
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| I love sweet features; I will own | 25 |
| That I should like myself | |
| To see my portrait on a wall, | |
| Or bust upon a shelf; | |
| But nature sometimes makes one up | |
| Of such sad odds and ends, | 30 |
| It really might be quite as well | |
| Hushed up among one's friends! | |
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