Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE HERMIT, by WALT MASON


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE HERMIT, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Old hunx is a hermit and mystic, his
Last Line: "and live in a cave or a ditch!"
Subject(s): Hermits


OLD HUNX is a hermit and mystic, his manner is stately and grave, his diet is
antiphlogistic, he spends all his years in a cave. "My health," he remarks, "is

a wonder, although I'm as old as get-out; rheumatics don't pull me asunder, I
have not the stringhalt or gout. I warble my optimist ditties, my soul's full of

sunshine and hope; but when I resided in cities, I always was swallowing dope. I

always had shingles or colic, or Bright's justly famous disease; the rheumatiz
often would frolic all over my fetlocks and knees. If man would keep grief in
the distance, and feel like a Percheron steer, he must lead the simple
existence, and cut out the urban career." "Methinks," I replied, "you are paying

too heavy a price for your bliss; while far from the bright lights you're
staying, just think of the fun that you miss! I'd rather have smallpox or
bunions, I'd rather have seven-year itch, than fill up with turnips and onions,

and live in a cave or a ditch!"





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