THE auto, as a grim destroyer, is difficult to beat. Just yesterday I killed a lawyer, while scorching up the street. When first I got my car I uttered a vow that I'd go slow. "This speeding mania," I muttered, "is what brings death and woe." But I got going fast and faster, like many another scout; and now there's always a disaster, whenever I go out. When home I come from some brief journey, my wife asks, "Who was slain?" I say, "Three clerks and an attorney lay dead upon the plain." I go kerwhooping every morning, o'er valley, weald and wold, all rules and regulations scorning, I knock the records cold. A cloud of dust, a roar and rattle, and I'm beyond your ken, as deadly as a modern battle, a menace to all men. The rural cops would like to pinch me, but can't get close enough; some day a bunch of men will lynch me, and that will be the stuff. And while for such a stunt they hanker, I'm scorching, far and near; today I crumpled up a banker, and maimed an auctioneer. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE BOHEMIAN HYMN by RALPH WALDO EMERSON UPON THE DEATH OF MY EVER CONSTANT FRIEND DOCTOR DONNE, DEAN OF PAUL'S by HENRY KING (1592-1669) LINES TO THE MEMORY OF ANNIE WHO DIED AT MILAN, JUNE 6, 1860 by HARRIET BEECHER STOWE MY VERY PARTICULAR FRIEND by MARIA ABDY ODES: BOOK 2: ODE 11. TO THE COUNTRY GENTLEMEN OF ENGLAND by MARK AKENSIDE THE ADORATION OF DISK BY KING AKHNATEN AND PRINCESS NEFER NEFERIU ATEN by AKHENATEN |