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Classic and Contemporary Poetry
GET OUT OF TOWN, by THOMAS MCGRATH Poet's Biography
First Line: Get out of town before it's too late
Last Line: A thousand miles from water and as far from wood
Subject(s): Escapes; Fugitives
First Line: Get out of town before it's too late
Last Line: A thousand miles from water and as far from wood
Subject(s): Escapes; Fugitives
Get out of town before it's too late
While the speedboat is frozen in the arctic lake
While the cops are snoring in the frost-hung parlor
And the shotgun hidden under crumpled pillows.
Get out of town, cross the winter mountain.
There are arteries hardening. The mob yells murder,
But be stayed no one, yourself no traitor --
They will not be saved, themselves not try to.
Get out of town while the going is good.
Say the hard word. Kiss the girls goodby.
Let the boys wait forever in the gloomy barrens
A thousand miles from water and as far from wood.
Used with the permission of Copper Canyon Press, P.O. Box 271, Port Townsend, WA
98368-0271, www.cc.press.org
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