Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THAT OTHER MAUD MULLER, by JAMES WHITCOMB RILEY



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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THAT OTHER MAUD MULLER, by                 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.






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