Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, SLOW BUT SURE, by WALT MASON


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

SLOW BUT SURE, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: The delegate who's slow but sure is nearly
Last Line: Allures, enchants. We let him wed our maiden aunts.
Subject(s): Labor & Laborers; Work; Workers


THE delegate who's slow but sure is nearly always sadly poor. I hire some
fellows, then and now, to mow the lawn or sheer the cow, to shovel snow or whack

up wood, and "Slow but Sure" is not much good. It puts a wire edge on my nerves

to watch the slow man's languid curves, to see him stand around perplext, as
doubting what he should do next. I pay him, when he's done, his yen, but do not

hire that man again, if I need help to mow the grass, or cultivate the garden
sass. He may be sure, but he's too slow; when he is weaving to and fro, you have

to line him with a post, to see which one is moving most. The man who wishes to

arrive, must show the village he's alive. When he is going anywhere, his coat
tails flap the balmy air; however humble be his grind, he leaves a trail of dust

behind. In every action, every step, he shows that he is full of pep. Employers

seek that hustling gent, in whom such shining traits are blent. His energy
allures, enchants. We let him wed our maiden aunts.





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