Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, A DESCRIPTION OF THE MORNING, by JONATHAN SWIFT


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

A DESCRIPTION OF THE MORNING, by         Recitation     Poem Explanation     Poet's Biography
First Line: Now hardly here and there a hackney-coach
Last Line: And schoolboys lag with satchels in their hands.
Variant Title(s): Morning In London
Subject(s): Labor & Laborers; Morning; Work; Workers


Now hardly here and there a hackney-coach
Appearing, showed the ruddy morn's approach.
Now Betty from her master's bed had flown,
And softly stole to discompose her own;
The slipshod 'prentice from his master's door
Had pared the dirt, and sprinkled round the floor.
Now Moll had whirled her mop with dextrous airs,
Prepared to scrub the entry and the stairs.
The youth with broomy stumps began to trace
The kennel-edge, where wheels had worn the place.
The small-coal man was heard with cadence deep,
Till drowned in shriller notes of chimney sweep:
Duns at his lordship's gate began to meet;
And brickdust Moll had screamed through half the street.
The turnkey now his flock returning sees,
Duly let out a-nights to steal for fees:
The watchful bailiffs take their silent stands,
And schoolboys lag with satchels in their hands.






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