Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, ON A STILE, by MARTHA OSTENSO


Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

ON A STILE, by                    
First Line: With lavender sachet
Last Line: And they swung and they swung!


I

With lavender sachet,
And ruffles of lace,
And a yellow poke bonnet
Cupping her face,
With pantalets peeping
Demurely below
A rustle of cretonne
Trim ankles to show;
With rosette of pansies
Upon her slim wrist,
And lips made of bud pinks
That ought to be kissed,
Cicily wandered
The asters among,
And pouted, "I'm tired
Of being so young!"
So she glanced cautiously
Round and about,
Lest Aunt Pricilla
Might be walking out.
Then she lifted her hoops
And she scampered a mile
'Til she came to the southerly
Side of a stile.

II

With coat-tails a-hanging
Sable and long,
With ivory hand leaning
On oaken cane strong,
And snug kerchief silkily
Muffling a cough,
And silver hair handsome
If most were not off;
With knee crook'd and foot slow
But eye bright on tree
Where high in the top the best
Nuts used to be,
Captain Q. down the lane
Ruefully strolled,
And muttered, "I'm tired
Of being so old!"
So, peering craftily
This way and that,
Lest Daughter was out
To see what he was at,
He flipped his stout cane
And he frisked him a mile,
'Til he came to the northerly
Side of a stile.

III

And Cicily climbed, and Captain Q. climbed,
And they sat side by side up on high!
The sun grew merry, the wind grew mild,
And a lark laughed out in the sky.

IV

Captain Q. sat him tight,
Captain Q. sat him bold,
And shouted, "I'm tired
Of being so old!"
"Tra la! I'm tired
Of being so young!"
Said C. And they swung
And they swung and they swung!





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