The Cyclops blinks -- his eye glows red, And the scaly dragon up ahead Falls into segments, severed clean By furious worms that dash between . . . Laboring elephantine, Ponderous trucks clatter, Horns stentorian . . . -- Nothing proud, nothing pompous About their pace -- A business matter! "Paper and furniture, Scrap iron, ham -- Out of our way, there! Scram, you, -- @3Scram@1!" The Cyclops blinks -- his eye beams mellow, And raucous hooters cease to bellow; Brakes screech, and tortured tires scream . . . Then curb to curb pedestrians stream, Insolent -- casual Eyeing each chauffeur, Drifting, hustling, whistling, giggling -- Ribbon of larvae Lively wriggling . . . Leisurely loafer, Brisk tycoon, Young romance, Cross in the beam Of that kindly glance. The Cyclops blinks -- his eye turns green, And dragon-segments close between; Bugs from the by-ways halt, permitting The glittering length a closer knitting . . . Shedding scales At loop and corner, Squawk at the vagrant Furtive-threading, rambling rapt, Skipping and dodging Destruction-scorner! Into the tunnels, Forth from town Crawl as the cool green Eye looks down! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...OBERMANN ONCE MORE by MATTHEW ARNOLD TO HIS MISTRESS by ROBERT HERRICK VISIONS OF THE WORLDS VANITIE by EDMUND SPENSER THE LOON by ELEANOR STIMSON BROOKS THE FRIGHTENED PATH by ABBIE FARWELL BROWN CAUTION by FRANCES BROWN (20TH CENTURY) |