Classic Poem

The gay Alphonse who trims a beard with grace —
And trails the taint of garlic in one's face —
Supplies a card to patrons of his chair
With " artist" graved thereon in letters fair;
The whitewash painter is an " artist," too,
And so 's the hasty lad who limns the shoe;
Yes! all are " artists," every Jack and John,
And so the pretty game goes lightly on!