Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE OLD LINE FENCE, by AMERICUS WELLINGTON BELLAW First Line: Zig-zagging it went Last Line: And no line fence. Subject(s): Fences | ||||||||
ZIG-ZAGGING it went On the line of the farm, And the trouble it caused Was often quite warm, THE OLD LINE FENCE. It was changed every year By decree of the court, To which, when worn out, Our sires would resort WITH THE OLD LINE FENCE. In hoeing their corn, When the sun, too, was hot, They surely would jaw, Punch or claw, when they got TO THE OLD LINE FENCE. In dividing the lands It fulfilled no desires, But answered quite well In "dividing" our sires, THIS OLD LINE FENCE. Though sometimes in this It would happen to fail, When, with top rail in hand, One would flare up and scale THE OLD LINE FENCE! Then the conflict was sharp On debatable ground, And the fertile soil there Would be mussed far around THE OLD LINE FENCE. It was shifted so oft That no flowers there grew. What frownings and clods, And what words were shot through THE OLD LINE FENCE! Our sires through the day There would quarrel or fight, With a vigour and vim, But 'twas different at night BY THE OLD LINE FENCE. The fairest maid there You would have descried That ever leaned soft On the opposite side OF AN OLD LINE FENCE. Where our fathers built hate There we builded our love, Breathed our vows to be true With our hands raised above THE OLD LINE FENCE. Its place might be changed, But there we would meet, With our heads through the rails, And with kisses most sweet, AT THE OLD LINE FENCE. It was love made the change, And the clasping of hands Ending ages of hate, And between us now stands NOT A SIGN OF LINE FENCE. No debatable ground Now enkindles alarms. I've the girl I met there, And, well, both of the farms, AND NO LINE FENCE. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...ECLOGUE: THE COMMON A-TOOK IN by WILLIAM BARNES THE COMMON A-TOOK IN by WILLIAM BARNES THE GEATE A-VALLEN TO by WILLIAM BARNES THE OLD COW MAN by CHARLES BADGER CLARK JR. SECLUDED PLACE by ELSIE ROSE GIVENS |
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