Poems (White)/Carnival

by Jeannie Copes White

CARNIVAL

Where is gay New Orleans, when her Rex comes in?
Full of joy and pleasure, wherever he has been.
See the little children all in masquerade,
Waiting for the coming of the Rex parade,
Sitting high above us, on his lofty throne,
Rolling through the city, ere he reaches home.
'Lectric lights and music, walking torches too,
As at night his kingship in the streets pass through.
Indians and devils, clowns, dogs and monkeys brown,
And thee, Cinderella, walking on the ground.
After Comus passes through the streets at night,
Then they all will gather at the ball-room bright.
Pour parades we have here, each one with a king.
Carnival is lively, rich in everything.
Throwing beads and trinkets out of every float,
Surely you're lucky to get some from a float.
And such crowds of people, gathered for the fun,—
You're crushed to pieces before the show's begun.
Candy, corn and peanuts selling everywhere,
Wagonloads of people, each seated in a chair;
Packed the cars and buggies, 'mobiles creeping by,
For they must be careful passing crowds to try.
Such a lot of pleasure, packed within two days,
And the strangers always of the city praise.