by Nancy Pain (flourished 1890-1910)
Geyserbianca
Language: English
The boy stood on the bathroom mat, A matchbox in his hand, The Geyser, new the day before, He did not understand. He scarcely dared to touch the thing Without his father's word; His father, wrapped in sleep above, Slept on and never heard. He called aloud: "Say, father, say, The gas or water first? If I turn on the gas before, Say, will the Geyser burst?" "Speak, father!" once again, he cried; "I dare not try alone!" And still no answer came to him, The snores went snoring on. He shouted but once more aloud: Won't no one show me how?" And then advanced with lighted match, And lit the gas first - OW!" The Geyser and the Gallant Child, The Bath - ha where are they? Ask of the maid who lost her place For sweeping them away.
Note: this is a parody of Felicia Dorothea Hemans's Casabianca.
Authorship:
- by Nancy Pain (flourished 1890-1910), "Geyserbianca", subtitle: "Mrs. H-m-ns" [author's text not yet checked against a primary source]
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Liza Lehmann (1862 - 1918), "Geyserbianca", subtitle: "Mrs. H-m-ns", published 1914 [ contralto and piano ], from Parody Pie, no. 3, Chappell & Co. [sung text checked 1 time]
Researcher for this page: Malcolm Wren [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2017-09-13
Line count: 24
Word count: 140