Classic and Contemporary Poetry
MACDOUGAL STREET, by EDNA ST. VINCENT MILLAY Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: As I went walking up and down to take the evening air Last Line: (truly I shall be ill unless I stop these tears!) Alternate Author Name(s): Boyd, Nancy; Boissevain, Eugen, Mrs. Subject(s): Macdougal Street, New York City | ||||||||
As I went walking up and down to take the evening air, (Sweet to meet upon the street, why must I be so shy?) I saw him lay his hand upon her torn black hair; ("Little dirty Latin child, let the lady by!") The women squatting on the stoops were slovenly and fat, (Lay me in organdie, lay me out in lawn!) And everywhere I stepped there was a baby or a cat; (Lord God in Heaven, will it never be dawn?) The fruit-carts and clam-carts were ribald as a fair, (Pink nets and wet shells trodden under heel) She had haggled from the fruit-man of his rotting ware; (I shall never get to sleep, the way I feel!) He walked like a king through the filth and the clutter, (Sweet to meet upon the street, why did you glance me by?) But he caught the quaint Italian quip she flung him from the gutter; (What can there be to cry about that I should lie and cry?) He laid his darling hand upon her little black head, (I wish I were a ragged child with ear-rings in my ears!) And he said she was a baggage to have said what she had said; (Truly I shall be ill unless I stop these tears!) | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...AFTERNOON ON A HILL by EDNA ST. VINCENT MILLAY ALMS by EDNA ST. VINCENT MILLAY ASSAULT by EDNA ST. VINCENT MILLAY BURIAL by EDNA ST. VINCENT MILLAY CITY TREES by EDNA ST. VINCENT MILLAY EBB by EDNA ST. VINCENT MILLAY ELAINE by EDNA ST. VINCENT MILLAY ELEGY BEFORE DEATH by EDNA ST. VINCENT MILLAY EXILED by EDNA ST. VINCENT MILLAY FIRST FIG by EDNA ST. VINCENT MILLAY |
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