Classic and Contemporary Poetry
ANTICLIMAX, by RICHARD EUGENE BURTON Poet's Biography First Line: I walked a city street, and suddenly Last Line: Fell on a mood more merry than mine own. Subject(s): Hearts; Night; Streets; Tears; Bedtime; Avenues | ||||||||
I WALKED a city street, and suddenly I saw a tiny lad. The winter wind Howled fitfully, and all the air above The clear-cut outline of the buildings tall Seemed full of knives that cut against the face: An awful night among the unhoused poor! The boy was tattered; both his hands were thrust For show of warmth within his pocket-holes, Where pockets had not been for many a day. One trouser-leg was long enough to hide The naked flesh, but one, in mockery A world too short, though he was monstrous small, Left bare and red his knee -- a cruel thing! Then swelled my selfish heart with tenderness And pity for the waif: to think of one So young, so seeming helpless, homeless too, Breasting the night, a-shiver with the cold! Gaining a little, soon I passed him by, My fingers reaching for a silver coin To make him happier, if only for An hour, when -- I marveled as I heard -- His mouth was puckered up in cheery wise, And in the very teeth of fortune's frown He whistled loud a scrap of some gay tune! And I must know that all my ready tears Fell on a mood more merry than mine own. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...CHINATOWN BLUES by CLARENCE MAJOR KEEP DRIVING by NAOMI SHIHAB NYE DEEP IN EUROPE by TOMAS TRANSTROMER IN THE STREETS by LOUIS UNTERMEYER EVENING SONG ON OUR STREET by DAVID WAGONER ANGLOSAXON STREET by EARL (EARLE) BIRNEY SONNET: 24. THE STREET by JAMES RUSSELL LOWELL A STEP AWAY FROM THEM by FRANK O'HARA (1926-1966) BLACK SHEEP by RICHARD EUGENE BURTON |
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