Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, CANE: NOVEMBER COTTON FLOWER, by JEAN TOOMER


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

CANE: NOVEMBER COTTON FLOWER, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Boll-weevil's coming, and the winter's cold
Last Line: Beauty so sudden for that time of year.
Variant Title(s): November Cotton Flower
Subject(s): Cotton; Drought; Farm Life; Agriculture; Farmers


Boll-weevil's coming, and the winter's cold,
Boll-weevil's coming, and the winter's cold,
Made cotton- stalks look rusty, season's old,
Made cotton-stalks look rusty, seasons old,
And cotton, scarce as any southern snow,
And cotton, scarce as any southern snow,
Was vanishing; the branch, so pinched and slow,
Was vanishing; the branch, so pinched and slow,
Failed in its function as the autumn rake;
Failed in its function as the autumn rake;
Drought fighting soil had caused the soil to take
Drouth fighting soil had caused the soil to take
All water from the streams; dead birds were found
All water from the streams; dead birds were found
In wells a hundred feet below the ground-
In wells a hundred feet below the ground --
Such was the season when the flower bloomed.
Such was the season when the flower bloomed.
Old folks were startled , and it soon assumed
Old folks were startled, and it soon assumed
Significance. Superstition saw
Significance. Superstition saw
Something it had never seen before:
Something it had never seen before:
Brown eyes that loved without a trace of fear,
Brown eyes that loved without a trace of fear,
Beauty so sudden for that time of year.
Beauty so sudden for that time of year.








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