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Classic and Contemporary Poetry


SIX MOVEMENTS; FOR MRS. EDWARD MACDOWELL: 4. CITY CHAP by ALFRED FRANCIS KREYMBORG

First Line: WHO'S THAT DUSTY STRANGER? WHAT'S HE DOING HERE?
Last Line: OF WINTERS, TOWNS, AND PEOPLE NO KINDER.
Subject(s): BIRDS;

Who's that dusty stranger? -- What's he doing here? --
That city-bred bird with the ill-bred leer? --

Perching on branches like telegraph wires? --
Chirping his slang above passionate fires? --

Poking his head about, twitching his tail? --
Getting drunk in our pools as though they were ale? --

Never accepting, but stealing our rations? --
Acting toward us as he would to relations? --

Who asked him hither, what led him this way? --
With his critical carping, his mockery, eh? --

And worse than all these, he's a jerky reminder
Of winters, towns, and people no kinder.



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