With a smile that was ecstatic Billings cleaned his automatic And he loaded it with cartridges galore, Then as was his habit daily, he absorbed his breakfast gayly And he started for his office as of yore; But a subway guard unheeding—'twas his usual proceeding— Slammed the door in Billings' face and grinned a grin. Billings pulled his gun and shot him, calmly saying, "Well, I got him, And he's very justly punished for his sin!" None endeavored to arrest him and a lot of people blessed him For a deed they often felt they'd like to do; So he went his way unfettered, though his morning's work he bettered When he shot a reckless motorist or two. Then at lunch-time, as he'd planned it, he bumped off a check-room bandit, And that evening in the purlieus of Broadway Seven taxi-operators and six ticket speculators Finished up his bag of victims for the day. When his landlord in the morning with no reason and no warning Said, "Hereafter I shall charge you double rent," Billings smiled exceeding sweetly as he plugged the landlord neatly And departed with a conscience well content. So he wandered through the city shooting various banditti And removing quite a bunch of profiteers, With his trusty automatic making life more democratic And erasing pests who'd angered him for years. Well, at length the coppers caught him and before a jury brought him But so widely spread and great was his renown That the court in manner fervent called him "good and faithful servant," And the people made him mayor of the town! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...SPOON RIVER ANTHOLOGY: BARNEY HAINSFEATHER by EDGAR LEE MASTERS COLLOQUE SENTIMENTAL by PAUL VERLAINE THE LAND OF HEART'S DESIRE by WILLIAM BUTLER YEATS THE KANSAS EMIGRANTS by JOHN GREENLEAF WHITTIER SOME ACCOUNT OF A NEW PLAY by RICHARD HARRIS BARHAM SONNETS OF MANHOOD: 33. RED DAWN by GEORGE BARLOW (1847-1913) |