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Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE BREADLINE, by MELVIN BEAUNORUS TOLSON Poet Analysis Poet's Biography
First Line: A reptile crawls along the squalid street
Last Line: Its filthy head upreared as if to strike!
Alternate Author Name(s): Tolson, Melvin
Subject(s): Class Struggle; Poverty
First Line: A reptile crawls along the squalid street
Last Line: Its filthy head upreared as if to strike!
Alternate Author Name(s): Tolson, Melvin
Subject(s): Class Struggle; Poverty
A reptile crawls along the squalid street,
Fantastic in a caricature of fog.
A naked wind prowls in man's last retreat,
Whimpering like a sick and cowered dog.
The slimy portent twitches, squirms in pain,
Its eyes dark hollow jets of baleful light.
The hunger-passion sears each nerve and vein;
Its jaws hide death; its skin and bones draw tight.
An ominous rattle slithers through the gloom:
A banker in his limousine rides high.
He has a mistress in a golden room,
And other lovely toys that riches buy.
The empty-bellied thing stirs with dislike,
Its filthy head upreared as if to strike!
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