Wilde - Born in a Handbag


Your Honour, the defendant can speak
French, Latin and Greek.
He went to Oxford, to Magdalen.
Did well in his exams,
did well in cups and loving arms.
To all intents and purposes,
he is a good European.
He has written well on Jesus
and drank with sinners -
Perrier Jouet, 1880

His language is first water,
his command of English first-rate.

Mr. Wilde goes out of an evening
and gazes at the stars;
He knows what he is doing,
he was not born in a handbag.