26 MAY 1923, Page 13

POETRY.

IN THE ALISCAMPS, ARLES.

You see here in this leaden tenement The skull of Aelian's daughter, Aelia, A crumbled thing—you know the sentiment :- Alas ! poor Yorick I Ah ! Ophelia This young dead Aelia had friends, suppose, To write her epitaph, but not content With a mere eulogy, they now expose (One franc and tip) her broken monument.

Hither came one, who had no friends at all And left no bones, T. Coffey from New York ; So, still alive, he scribbled on the wall Where Aelia and the Merovingians slumber, His own base epitaph in cheap red chalk- " Astoria Avenue " and gave the number.

DYNELEY HUSSEY.