Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, TRAFFIC, by HAROLD WILLARD GLEASON


Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

TRAFFIC, by                    
First Line: The cyclops blinks - his eye glows red
Last Line: Eye looks down!
Subject(s): Driving & Drivers


The Cyclops blinks -- his eye glows red,
And the scaly dragon up ahead
Falls into segments, severed clean
By furious worms that dash between . . .
Laboring elephantine,
Ponderous trucks clatter,
Horns stentorian . . .
-- Nothing proud, nothing pompous
About their pace --
A business matter!
"Paper and furniture,
Scrap iron, ham --
Out of our way, there!
Scram, you, -- Scram!"

The Cyclops blinks -- his eye beams mellow,
And raucous hooters cease to bellow;
Brakes screech, and tortured tires scream . . .
Then curb to curb pedestrians stream,
Insolent -- casual
Eyeing each chauffeur,
Drifting, hustling, whistling, giggling --
Ribbon of larvae
Lively wriggling . . .
Leisurely loafer,
Brisk tycoon,
Young romance,
Cross in the beam
Of that kindly glance.

The Cyclops blinks -- his eye turns green,
And dragon-segments close between;
Bugs from the by-ways halt, permitting
The glittering length a closer knitting . . .
Shedding scales
At loop and corner,
Squawk at the vagrant
Furtive-threading, rambling rapt,
Skipping and dodging
Destruction-scorner!
Into the tunnels,
Forth from town
Crawl as the cool green
Eye looks down!





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