Esther Book

Poor, lovely Lily Bart
Her tragic story
will break your heart

She runs in the best circles
Wears the right clothes
And flirts with rich men

But everyone knows
That she needs to marry
Someone - and fast!

At 29 her looks won't last
She's ringing up debts
Borrowing from men

And displeasing their wives
Not to mention her friend
Lawrence Selden, a lawyer (but not very rich)

It's Gilded Age New York
And life's a bitch
If you're not "old money"

Like the Trenors, Dorsets
And that odd Percy Gryce
The most you can do is play very nice

Like Sam Rosedale, the Brys
The Gormers and such,
Who buy their way in (i.e., never go "dutch")

Just remember: this clique
Who summer in Newport and vacate in France
Can shut you out of the social dance

Which brings me back to Lily Bart
Who's clearly not as smart as she seems
Stepping right into a terrible scheme

And refusing to clear her name
Or go along with the game
Even though, in the end, it causes her shame

Does she have a choice?
A tragic flaw?
Or is her inaction the point of it all?

Is her refusal to play her hand
A critique of women's roles
In a world ruled by Man?

And what of that ending
That seems out of place?
I won't give a spoiler (that'd be a disgrace)

But melodrama and tears crop up near the end
When Lily appears
To want for a friend

Her author, Ms. Wharton, knew this world well
It looked like heaven
But was nasty as hell

It's a fine portrait of Old New York
But please don't forget another great work
An even better one, written

Some 16 years hence
Full of wisdom, passion, sensibility and sense
The title? You guessed it: The Age Of Innocence