Before the Ball

UNDOUBTEDLY the Gods had called the tune;
The piper, though, declared he was not paid.
Nor had they notified the sun and moon,
The lamps that were to light the masquerade.

They sent a strong petition to the Lord,
Bearing the signatures of one and all,
In which they stated that, with one accord,
They were not ready to begin the ball.

The Lord, however, did not read these words,
Though they were written in the sweetest rhyme,
For he was teaching Hebrew to the birds
(A language he was fond of at the time).

What then? Though simply nothing was prepared,
The guests were all beginning to arrive;
The hills and valleys were not even aired,
The Under Footman had not swept the drive.

Now nothing could be done, it was too late;
The Butler, piling glasses on the trays,
Was heard to mutter to the Piper’s Mate,
‘It was too big a job for seven days.”