Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, AT REHEARSAL, by ALICE CARY


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

AT REHEARSAL, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: O cousin kit macdonald
Last Line: Of the part you are playing now.
Subject(s): Childhood Memories; Play; Disappointment


O COUSIN Kit MacDonald,
I've been all the day among
The places and the faces
That we knew when we were young;

And, like a hope that shineth down
The shadow of its fears,
I found this bit of color on
The groundwork of the years.

So with words I tried to paint it,
All so merry and so bright --
And here, my Kit MacDonald,
Is the picture light on light.

It was night -- the cows were stabled,
And the sheep were in their fold,
And our garret had a double roof --
Pearl all across the gold.

The winds were gay as dancers --
We could hear them waltz and whirl
Above the roof of yellow pine,
And the other roof of pearl.

We had gathered sticks from the snow-drift,
And now that the fire was lit,
We made a ring about the hearth
And watched for you, dear Kit.

We planned our pleasant pastimes,
But never a game begun --
For Cousin Kit was the leader
Of all the frolic and fun.

With moss and with bark, for his sake,
The fire we strove to mend --
For the fore-stick, blazing at middle,
Was frosty at either end;

But after all of the blowing
Till our cheeks were puffed and red,
No warm glow lighted the umber
Of the rafters overhead;

And after all of the mending,
We could not choose but see
That the little low, square window
Was as dark as dark could be.

The chill crept in from our fingers
Till our hearts grew fairly numb --
Oh, what if he shouldn't see the light,
And what if he shouldn't come!

Then pale-cheeked little Annie,
With a hand behind her ear
Slipt out of the ring and listened
To learn if his step were near;

And Philip followed, striding
Through the garret to and fro --
To show us that our Cousin Kit
Was marching through the snow;

While Rose stood all a-tiptoe,
With face to the window pressed,
To spy him, haply, over the hill,
And tell the news to the rest.

And at last there was shout and laughter,
And the watching all was done --
For Kit came limping and whimpering,
And the playing was begun.

"A poor old man, good neighbors,
Who has nearly lost his sight,
Has come," he said, "to eat your bread,
And lodge by your fire to-night.

"I have no wife nor children,
And the night is bitter cold;
And you see (he showed the snow on his hair) --
You see I am very old!"

"We have seen your face too often,
Old Mr. Kit," we said;
"How comes it that you're houseless --
And why are you starved for bread?

"Because you were thriftless and lazy,
And would not plough nor sow;
And because you drank at the tavern --
Ah! that is why, you know!

"We don't give beggars lodging,
And we want our fire and bread;
And so good-day, and go your way,
Old Mr. Kit," we said.

Then showing his ragged jacket,
He said that his money was spent --
And said he was old, and the night was cold,
And with body doubly bent

He reached his empty hat to us,
And then he wiped his eye,
And said he hadn't a friend in the world
That would give him room to die.

"But it wasn't for you," we answered,
"That our hearth to-night was lit."
And so we turned him out o' the house --
O Kit, my Cousin Kit!

As I sit here painting over
The night, and the fire, and the snow,
And all your boyish make-believe
In that garret rude and low,

My heart is broken within me,
For my love must needs allow
That you were at the rehearsal then
Of the part you are playing now.





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