In just three short lines, this poem sketches a moment of public humiliation. "Has-been" in the title tells us the man was once somebody, and now he isn't. He is among "the fine ladies," a setting that suggests polish, manners, and an audience that notices every slip. The phrase "every word broken" can be read a couple of ways: his speech may be faltering, stuttering, or falling apart in his mouth, or his words may simply no longer carry the weight or charm they once did.
Then comes "old coxcomb," a sharp, old-fashioned insult for a vain, foolish dandy. It's unclear whether the speaker is mocking the man or the man is judging himself, and that ambiguity is part of the effect. Either way, the tone is harsh and a little pitying. The mood is one of embarrassment and decline, the sting of being out of place in a room that once welcomed you. The poem's brevity makes it feel like a quick, cruel snapshot.