Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE WEST COUNTRY, by ALICE CARY Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: Have you been in our wild west country? Then Last Line: Men clothe him with their praise. Subject(s): Child Labor; Homesteaders; West (u.s.); Southwest; Pacific States | ||||||||
HAVE you been in our wild west country? then You have often had to pass Its cabins lying like birds' nests in The wild green prairie grass. Have you seen the women forget their wheels As they sat at the door to spin -- Have you seen the darning fall away From their fingers worn and thin, As they asked you news of the villages Where they were used to be, Gay girls at work in the factories With their lovers gone to sea! Ah, have you thought of the bravery That no loud praise provokes -- Of the tragedies acted in the lives Of poor, hard-working folks! Of the little more, and the little more Of hardship which they press Upon their own tired hands to make The toil for the children less: And not in vain; for many a lad Born to rough work and ways, Strips off his ragged coat, and makes Men clothe him with their praise. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...WESTERN WAGONS by STEPHEN VINCENT BENET DRIVING WEST IN 1970 by ROBERT BLY IN THE HELLGATE WIND by MADELINE DEFREES A PERIOD PORTRAIT OF SYMPATHY by EDWARD DORN ASSORTED COMPLIMENTS by EDWARD DORN AT THE COWBOY PANEL by EDWARD DORN A SPINSTER'S STINT by ALICE CARY |
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