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Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE 'CHRONIC KICKER', by PAUL LAURENCE DUNBAR Poet's Biography First Line: It was at the town convention Last Line: For that everlastin' kick. | |||
It was at the town convention Fur to nominate a mayor, An' things had been progressin' In a way both cool an' fair; An' we thought that we had finished In a manner mighty slick, When up rose the chronic kicker Fur to kick, kick, kick. Then we felt our feathers fallin', Nor we didn't laugh no more, While some quite impatient fellers Made a bee line fur the door; An' we listened, an' we listened, While the clock the hours ticked, To that derned old chronic kicker As he kicked, kicked, kicked. Next we held a conf'rence meetin' In our little mission church, -- Fur a cheap an' worthy pastor We were in an earnest search; We had jest made our agreement (An' 'twas come to very quick), When up rose the chronic kicker Fur to kick, kick, kick. An' we heard the birds a whistlin' In the air so sweet an' cool, While we all sat there a list'nin' To that flambergasted fool; But I'm sure the Lord was min'ful, Fur no thorn our conscience pricked, When we nodded while that kicker Stood an' kicked, kicked, kicked. Next 'twas a baseball battle, Overlooked by boys in trees, Where no act of bat or basement Could this chronic kicker please, Until weary with his yellin', Some one hit him with a brick, An' he lay down in the diamond Fur to kick, kick, kick. But Death, that great policeman, By now frowns or kicks defied, At last came up an' seized him, An' so, with a kick, he died; But he, jest before the fun'ral, Made the undertaker sick, As the coffin couldn't hold him For that everlastin' kick. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...A BOY'S SUMMER SONG by PAUL LAURENCE DUNBAR A CHRISTMAS FOLKSONG by PAUL LAURENCE DUNBAR A CORN SONG by PAUL LAURENCE DUNBAR A DEATH SONG by PAUL LAURENCE DUNBAR A HYMN; AFTER READING 'LEAD, KINDLY LIGHT' by PAUL LAURENCE DUNBAR A LITTLE CHRISTMAS BASKET by PAUL LAURENCE DUNBAR A LOVE LETTER by PAUL LAURENCE DUNBAR A LOVE SONG by PAUL LAURENCE DUNBAR A MUSICAL by PAUL LAURENCE DUNBAR A NEGRO LOVE SONG by PAUL LAURENCE DUNBAR |
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