Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THAT OTHER MAUD MULLER, by JAMES WHITCOMB RILEY Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: Maud muller worked at making hay Last Line: And raked the judge instead of the hay. Alternate Author Name(s): Johnson Of Boone, Benj. F. Subject(s): Cups; Judges; May (month) | ||||||||
Maud Muller worked at making hay, And cleared her forty cents a day. Her clothes were coarse, but her health was fine, And so she worked in the sweet sunshine Singing as glad as a bird in May "Barbara Allen" the livelong day. She often glanced at the far-off town, And wondered if eggs were up or down. And the sweet song died of a strange disease, Leaving a phantom taste of cheese, And an appetite and a nameless ache For soda-water and ginger cake. The judge rode slowly into view -- Stopped his horse in the shade and threw His fine-cut out, while the blushing Maud Marveled much at the kind he "chawed." "He was dry as a fish," he said with a wink, "And kind o' thought that a good square drink Would brace him up." So the cup was filled With the crystal wine that old spring spilled; And she gave it him with a sun-browned hand. "Thanks," said the judge in accents bland; "A thousand thanks! for a sweeter draught, From a fairer hand" -- but there he laughed. And the sweet girl stood in the sun that day, And raked the judge instead of the hay. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...IN THE MONTH OF MAY by ROBERT BLY VENICE: MAY DAY by KENNETH REXROTH EARLY MAY STANZAS by TOMAS TRANSTROMER HOME-THOUGHTS, FROM ABROAD by ROBERT BROWNING IN MAY by PAUL LAURENCE DUNBAR A BOY'S MOTHER by JAMES WHITCOMB RILEY |
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