Classic Poem

'Long about dusk I'd see him go
Almost a-runnin' through the snow
Bound for the marsh, like a feller who's late
Meetin' some girl, you know, — keepin' a " date. "
" Jest like them dudes, " thinks I, " to roam
With girls in the marsh, and their wives to home! "

So, one fine day, I on with my hood
And follered his tracks to the edge o' the wood
Where the marsh begins, to see who it was
Meetin' my neighbour's man, — because
I liked Mis' Joyce, — and she oughter know
O' the goin's-on out there in the snow!

Well, what do you s'pose I saw? — Instead er
A girl, there wa'nt nothin' but common salt meader,
And him on the bridge pacin' up and down
Watchin' the grasses float and drown

In the flood o' the tide, and the cakes of ice
Swim up westward. He looked so nice,
And pleased and content, it seemed like he
Was findin' himself rare company;
And never once did he turn his head
From the west, to look for a skirt instead.

I sneaked back home by the pasture lane,
And studied and puzzled and addled my brain
To guess why he hurried so, only to stand
And gape at the west with his hat in his hand.

Next mornin' says I to my neighbour: " Say
Why does your man allus hurry that way
Past my house, the end of the day? "
Says she: " To look at the sunset, dear,
Out where there's nothing to interfere. "
Says I: " Now ain't you city folks queer!
What's in a sunset for to see? "
" Look for yourself, my dear, " says she.

So, late that day, I thought for to look
Out o' the winder near where I cook.
The sky was a nice red birthday cake
Spattered with candles.


Mercy's sake!
I dropped the cutter; I dropped the dough,
I stood there gapin' outdoors as though
One o' them fairy tales was true,
And I was a princess with nothin' to do
But watch a girl sewin' with silver thread
On pink satin curtains to hang 'round my bed.

I hurried across and opened the door;
Never seed nothin' so purty afore!
Then, under my eyes, things turned to a dome
O' melting gold, like a honeycomb.
Some bee must 'a' come from that fairy hive
And stung me, and made me feel all alive...

Funny what tricks yer eyes will play
If any one happens to show 'em the way!