Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, A PORTFOLIO OF SKETCHES: THE LITTLE ANNUITANT, by PAUL FORT



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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

A PORTFOLIO OF SKETCHES: THE LITTLE ANNUITANT, by                    
First Line: He has departed by the road, the poor man, summoning up such
Last Line: So opportunely comes?
Subject(s): Art & Artists; Death; Fate; Life; Dead, The; Destiny


He has departed by the road, the poor man, summoning up such fortitude as old
men can, with little faltering steps counted by trembling cane, he has departed.
He will not come again.

His constitutional covers no great distance, the dear man. Conservative for
eighteen hundred years, none has he wronged, no enemy he fears. He has always
led so prudent an existence since Time began.

Two rods of road and then a path we trace, a tiny little path, to reconduct the
man, the worthy little man, back to his starting place. And why should Fate
select as victim of its spleen that honest little man in his little by-path
green?

He trudges there, he coughs, he spits, he gnaws, he mumbles to himself, he
blinks applause, content with all. He roasts his doddering heart in the bright
sun's warm beam. He dreams his way through life. He takes no part in strife, and
he is happy in his dream.

Yes, why should evil Fate have grudged felicity to that good man and wished to
do him wrong, when nothing came his peace to mar save that he sometimes trudged
too far? Of course there's death the icy breath that solveth all our sums. Ah,
death, the broad highway, there one marches long. But bah, is there not this
good abbe to graft you on a good little path -- this excellent little abbe who
so opportunely comes?





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