A MAN by the name of Bolus -- (all 'at we'll ever know Of the stranger's name, I reckon -- and I'm kind o' glad it's so!) -- Got off here, Christmas morning, looked 'round the town, and then Kind o' sized up the folks, I guess, and -- went away again! The fac's is, this man Bolus got "run in," Christmas-day; The town turned out to see it, and cheered, and blocked the way; And they dragged him 'fore the Mayor -- fer he couldn't er @3wouldn't@1 walk -- And socked him down fer trial -- though he couldn't er @3wouldn't@1 talk! Drunk? They was no doubt of it! -- W'y, the marshal of the town Laughed and testified 'at he fell @3up@1-stairs 'stid o' @3down!@1 This man by the name of Bolus? -- W'y, he even drapped his jaw And snored on through his "hearin'" -- drunk as you ever saw! One feller spit in his boot-leg, and another 'n' drapped a small Little chunk o' ice down his collar, -- but he didn't wake at all! And they all nearly split when his Honor said, in one of his witty ways, To "chalk it down fer him, 'Called away -- be back in thirty days!'" That's where this man named Bolus slid, kind o' like in a fit, Flat on the floor; and -- drat my ears! I hear 'em a-laughin' yit! Somebody fetched Doc Sifers from jes' acrost the hall -- And all Doc said was, "Morphine! We're too late!" and that's all! That's how they found his name out -- piece of a letter 'at read: "Your wife has lost her reason, and little Nathan's dead -- Come ef you kin, -- fergive @3her@1 -- but, Bolus, as fer @3me@1, This hour I send a bullet through where my heart @3ort@1 to be!" @3Man by the name of Bolus!@1 -- As his revilers broke Fer the open air, 'peared-like, to me, I heerd a voice 'at spoke -- @3Man by the name of Bolus! git up from where you lay@1 -- @3Git up and smile white at 'em, with your hands crossed thataway!@1 | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE MAD GARDENER'S SONG by CHARLES LUTWIDGE DODGSON THE BEGGAR'S HOLIDAY, FR. BEGGAR'S BUSH by JOHN FLETCHER THE LAST RESERVATION by WALTER LEARNED THE MODERN MOTHER by ALICE MEYNELL PSALM 49 by OLD TESTAMENT BIBLE RYE BREAD by WILLIAM STANLEY BRAITHWAITE THEMISTA'S REPROOF by RICHARD BRATHWAITE |