Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, A ROUGH SKETCH, by JAMES WHITCOMB RILEY


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A ROUGH SKETCH, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: I caught, for a second, across the crowd
Last Line: And nose like the beak of a bird of prey!
Alternate Author Name(s): Johnson Of Boone, Benj. F.
Subject(s): Faces; Moon; Nature


I caught, for a second, across the crowd --
Just for a second, and barely that --
A face, pox-pitted and evil-browed,
Hid in the shade of a slouch-rim'd hat --
With small gray eyes, of a look as keen
As the long, sharp nose that grew between.

And I said: 'Tis a sketch of Nature's own,
Drawn I' the dark o' the moon, I swear,
On a tatter of Fate that the winds have blown
Hither and thither and everywhere --
With its keen little sinister eyes of gray,
And nose like the beak of a bird of prey!





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