Dorian Gray

[tectak]

Sedulous in full aesthetic dress,
Dorian Gray pursed his lips,
(those chiseled in excellent disdain)
posed his ivory cane
aslant the wrought-iron gate.
In dandy style announced,
with a doily at his nose,
“Oscar, I'm getting younger,
but the portrait I've lived
has finished too late."

rh

Hi Roy and thanks for this cameo. There is not enough open to criticism to do a line by line...in fact there is not enough of it! I could have taken more.
A few observations, mostly etymological and probably preferential, too.
"Sedulous" is probably up to the mark but it is an adjective at heart. Implied though, is "he was sedulous" and so as "sedulousness", quantitative, is a non-starter "assiduously" with minor changes to the line, would perhaps be more pleasing.
No requirement for "those" unless he has an assortment of lips and he chose the chiselled pair!
"aslant" is excellent, carrying with it a certain languidity. Stereo-typical pose but very good prod to the memory of the portrait.
Unless humourous in intent, I don't think "doily" has veracity; "kerchief" probably hits the mark but doily-like kerchiefs were all the rage as a wealth indicators. I cannot argue this point as I know EXACTLY what the image conjours....and it works.
The close needs a little untangling but even as I failed to decipher, it seemed to make sense....which is good enough. I am reminded of Boris Johnson whose retort "I could not fail to disagree with you less" has similar characteristics[]
Please forgive me for this impudence, but have you read the OW story of Dorian? I have, and that is why the close, to me anyway, seems enigmatic.
Perhaps that is your intent.
Best,
tectak