Classic and Contemporary Poetry
LOOKING OVER VERMONT TOWN RESORTS, by DANIEL LEAVENS CADY Poet's Biography First Line: Along before marchmeeting day Last Line: And them that search the town reports. Subject(s): Courthouses; Towns; Vermont | ||||||||
ALONG before Marchmeeting day, For towards a month or so, I'd say, While yet the ground is solid white And not a robin's song in sight; While yet the snow contraptions stand Upon the Propagation land; You're apt to notice anywheres, Around behind the Grange Hall stairs, In blacksmith shop, or store backroom, Or any place of public gloom, A nice old bunch of nice old sports A-going through the Town Reports. If you're a boy whose ear is spry, And don't let on, and slip up sly, The Overseer's account you'll hear Discussed like this, or very near: "Paid, pair of crutches, Pat McKim; One crutch has always done for him: Paid, care and nursing, Jacob Greif; That Hun has got a husky wife: Paid, Pittsburg stogies, Joe Larue; 'Twould cost us less if Joe would chew:" Oh! they could practice 'round the courts, Them tops that search the Town Reports. "Paid, funeral sermon, Reverend Gas; We'll bet 'twas what they call a mass: Paid, pain-reliever, Huldah Dake; She's full of morphine, let her ache: Paid, hearse and horse for William Brown; How's that? we've got a hearse in town: Paid, doctor twice, Belindy Snell; That's tough on us, she can't get well: Paid, lodging tramps and 'phone at Cramp's; That's rich, a telephone for tramps:" They're surely wise, that bunch of sports That sets and searches Town Reports. The Road Commishner next receives These raps and straps to grace his sleeves: "Paid, extry shoveling, sixty days; Some shoveler that, old one-armed Hayes: Paid, winter road and day's expense; Oh! yes; he moved two lengths of fence: Paid, brush and stone for Slipback Hill; That's so's to keep 'er slipping still: Paid, Georgia pine for culvert beams; He'd better bought some chocolate creams:" They sure could practice 'round the courts, Them tops that search the Town Reports. And so they go, straight up and down, Through every officer in town; No certified accountant lives Whose art such "special service" gives; They know each itemed line they score And what it's been for years before; They know a first selectman's charge In second lister would be large: Oh! there be folks for every part, And wartime doesn't change the heart; There's them that fight and man the forts, And them that search the Town Reports. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...ORATION: HALF-MOON IN VERMONT by NORMAN DUBIE THE PHOTOGRAPHER'S ANNUAL by NORMAN DUBIE THE CROWS AT 3 A.M. by STANLEY PLUMLY ALBANY BUS STATION by RUTH STONE FALL COMES IN BACK-COUNTRY VERMONT by ROBERT PENN WARREN A SNOW-STORM; SCENE IN A VERMONT WINTER by CHARLES GAMAGE EASTMAN A VERMONT 'DONATION' by DANIEL LEAVENS CADY A VERMONT 'DONATION' by DANIEL LEAVENS CADY |
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