Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE POOR MAN'S AUTOMOBILE, by EDWIN L. SABIN



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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE POOR MAN'S AUTOMOBILE, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: When the day's stint is finished, and master and man
Last Line: But I doubt if a nabob is gayer than we.
Subject(s): Automobiles; Cities; Driving & Drivers; Travel; Wheels; Cars; Urban Life; Journeys; Trips


WHEN the day's stint is finished, and master and man
May find their enjoyment wherever they can;
Ere the lamps are a-lit at the coming of night,
And the freshness and coolness of even invite
The heart to gain courage and concord anew
By draughts of the gloaming perfumed by the dew,
Then, skimming the pavements, the world is a-wheel —
And my wifie and I take our automobile.

A nod to our buttoned, blue-girded chauffeur,
And away we are flying, with none to demur —
Away through the thoroughfares, mile after mile,
And turning the corners in dexterous style,
With the voice of our watchful, imperious gong
Proclaiming our nearness, and warning the throng;
While leaning like monarchs, ensconced in our seat,
We haughtily gaze at the sights of the street.

Or, Sundays, when all of the city is out
With bicycles, carriages, gliding about,
We call for our auto, and entering in,
Are off on a joyous, enrapturing spin
(And who would forbid us an innocent lark!)
For rest and for pleasure, to lake or to park,
Our vehicle one which the lightnings equip,
And a touch of the lever in place of a whip.

Of course it may seem (as I do not deny)
That we're rather extravagant, wifie and I,
For people whose income, in dollars and cents,
Is barely sufficient for needful expense.
But, bless you, although so pretentious we are,
When we're "taking our auto" we're boarding a car!
And that is our horseless conveyance, you see —
But I doubt if a nabob is gayer than we.





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