Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, BUCOLIC COMEDY: TWO KITCHEN SONGS: 1, by EDITH SITWELL


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BUCOLIC COMEDY: TWO KITCHEN SONGS: 1, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: The harsh bray and hollow
Last Line: But psyche -- where, oh where, is she?


THE harsh bray and hollow
Of the pot and the pan
Seems Midas defying
The great god Apollo!
The leaves' great golden crowns
Hang on the trees;
The maids in their long gowns
Hunt me through these.
Grand'am, Grand'am,
From the pan I am
Flying . . . country gentlemen
Took flying Psyche for a hen
And aimed at her; then turned a gun
On harmless chicken-me -- for fun.
The beggars' dogs howl all together,
Their tails turn to a ragged feather;
Pools, like mirrors hung in garrets,
Show each face as red as a parrot's,
Whistling hair that raises ire
In cocks and hens in the kitchen fire!
Every flame shrieks cockle-doo-doo
(With their cockscombs flaring high too);
The witch's rag-rug takes its flight
Beneath the willows' watery light:
The wells of water seem a-plume --
The old witch sweeps them with her broom --
All are chasing chicken-me. . . .
But Psyche -- where, oh where, is she?





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