Poetry Explorer


Classic and Contemporary Poetry


THE GUEST by S. BERT COOKSLEY

First Line: AFTER AWHILE WE WILL SIT DOWN TOGETHER
Last Line: WHAT BIRDS ARE SAYING DOWN HIS ORCHARD ROWS!
Subject(s): GUESTS; VISITING;

After awhile we will sit down together;
He will be ponderous, settling like a cow,
Thickly satisfied with God and weather --
I shall permit his pasture with a bow.
And we will talk tobacco and elections,
Securities, acquaintances and men:
He'll rhyme the latter with his smooth perfections,
Content to see me slowly nod again.

I'll know the price of every piece of silver
Used to chop his richly scented food;
I'll tell myself his heavy hands would pilfer,
Golden nails from some cathedral's rood;
Then we will part . . . I wonder if he knows
What birds are saying down his orchard rows!



Home: PoetryExplorer.net