Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE CHILD ON THE CURBSTONE, by ELINOR WYLIE Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: The headlights raced; the moon, death-faced Last Line: Dipping his foot in danger. Alternate Author Name(s): Benet, William Rose, Mrs. Subject(s): Children; Childhood | ||||||||
The headlights raced; the moon, death-faced, Stared down on that golden river. I saw through the smoke the scarlet cloak Of a boy who could not shiver. His father's hand forced him to stand, The traffic thundered slaughter; One foot he thrust in the whirling dust As it were running water. As in a dream I saw the stream Scatter in drops that glistened; They flamed, they flashed, his brow they splashed, And danger's son was christened. The portent passed; his fate was cast, Sea-farer, desert-ranger. Tearless I smiled on that fearless child Dipping his foot in Danger. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE THREE CHILDREN by JOSEPHINE JACOBSEN CHILDREN SELECTING BOOKS IN A LIBRARY by RANDALL JARRELL COME TO THE STONE ... by RANDALL JARRELL THE LOST WORLD by RANDALL JARRELL A SICK CHILD by RANDALL JARRELL CONTINENT'S END by ROBINSON JEFFERS ON THE DEATH OF FRIENDS IN CHILDHOOD by DONALD JUSTICE THE POET AT SEVEN by DONALD JUSTICE BRONZE TRUMPETS AND SEA WATER; ON TURNING LATIN VERSE INTO ENGLISH by ELINOR WYLIE |
|