Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, SONNETS OF SEVEN CITIES: PHILADELPHIA, by BERTON BRALEY


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

SONNETS OF SEVEN CITIES: PHILADELPHIA, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: She sits in quaker garb and seems to drowse
Last Line: While she pretends they are not there at all.
Subject(s): Philadelphia, Pennsylvania


She sits in Quaker garb and seems to drowse,
A plump, smug lady, with a placid air;
You can't imagine roses in her hair
Or sparkling eyes beneath those level brows.
But whisper to her of a gay carouse
She'll doff her cloak and on your vision flare
White shouldered, scarlet clad, enticing, fair,
Wide eyed and pagan as the law allows.

Her domicile is prim, immaculate
(That part of it which faces on the street)
But in the rear you find a doubtful state,
Cigar butts, bottles, marks of dirty feet,
Where thieves and grafters hold rough carnival
While she pretends they are not there at all.





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