All things old China - books, anecdotes, stories, podcasts, factoids & ramblings from the author Paul French

Remembering Eunice Tietjens #6 – The Dandy

Posted: January 4th, 2018 | No Comments »

This poem was written around 1915 when Tietjens was visiting Wusih (Wuxi) in Jiangsu near Shanghai…at the time the notion of the dandy was as much about refined habits and leisurely hobbies as it was (as I think is more common today) mostly about appearance and dress….

The Dandy

He swaggers in green silk and his two coats are lined with fur. Above his velvet shoes his trim, bound ankles twinkle pleasantly.

His nails are the longest.

Quite the glass of fashion is Mr. Chu!

In one slim hand – the ultimate punctilio – dangles a bamboo cage, wherein a small brown bird sits with a face of perpetual surprise.

Mr. Chu smiles the benevolent smile of one who satisfies both fashion and a tender heart.

Does not a bird need an airing?

Wusih



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