Portfolio The Chaperon by Henry Cuyler Bunner

Portfolio The Chaperon by Henry Cuyler Bunner
I take my chaperon to the play–
She thinks she’s taking me.
And the gilded youth who owns the box,
A proud young man is he;
But how would his young heart be hurt
If he could only know
That not for his sweet sake I go
Nor yet to see the triffling show;
But to see my chaperon flirt.

Her eyes beneath her snowy hair
They sparkle young as mine;
There’s scarce a wrinkle in her hand
So delicate and fine.
And when my chaperon is seen,
They come from everywhere–
The dear old boys with silver hair,
With old-time grace and old-time air,
To greet their old-time queen.

They bow as my young Midas here
Will never learn to bow
(The dancing-masters do not teach
That gracious reverence now);
With voices quivering just a bit,
They play their old parts through,
They talk of folk who used to woo,
Of hearts that broke in ‘fifty-two–
Now none the worse for it.

And as those aged crickets chirp,
I watch my chaperon’s face,
And see the dear old features take
A new and tender grace;
And in her happy eyes I see
Her youth awakening bright,
With all its hope, desire, delight–
Ah, me! I wish that I were quite
As young–as young as she!

Writing Task: The speaker of the poem is intent on watching the interactions of her chaperon during her trip to the play. Imagine the conversations and events that might occur while they attend the play. Write an original story about the speaker and her chaperon’s conversation on their trip home from the play.