Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE MIRACLE, by R. J. CASSIDY


Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE MIRACLE, by                    
First Line: Excitement reigned at piker's pub. Even old piker gazed
Last Line: Jamboree joe had ridden by—yes, he had ridden by!
Alternate Author Name(s): Gilrooney
Subject(s): Bars & Bartenders; Drinks & Drinking; Pubs; Taverns; Saloons; Wine


EXCITEMENT reigned at Piker's pub. Even old Piker gazed
Across the bar like one who was amazingly amazed.
Yes, Piker who had seen the worst that any man might see—
And viewed it with an absence of excitability.
Aye, Piker who had heard the blood give forth its gurgling noise
From someone's throat, and yet retained his mental equipoise.

Even old Mulga Mick stared out with wonder in his eyes—
Two red-rimmed orbs that long had lost all vestige of surprise.
Yes, ancient Mulga looked amazed—that Mulga who had seen
The sorts of snakes that never were, and never could have been;
That Noah who had trudged the tracks, and trudged them o'er and o'er,
And saw the things, and heard the things, no man had known before.

And Jack McClusky said "By God!" and that was all he said
What time he pressed a weary hand across his aching head.
Astonishment had stilled his tongue. And Jack had seen the things
That only vast experience out West o' Sunset brings.
Those things he'd seen, and seen again, and wondered not, I vow—
But great amazement plainly held possession of him now.

The Scarlet Girl looked out in fear, and on her painted lips
The honeyed laughter died away. She flung no mocking quips.
Yes, she, the Scarlet Girl, I swear, was too surprised to say
The usual things (and, God forgive!—what scarlet things were they!).
Aye, she, the joyous witch, who'd seen the moths around the flame
And when they'd burnt their feeble wings had held the moths to blame!

Even the Golden Girl had ceased to pound the deep-worn keys;
And it was plain, and more than plain, that she was ill at ease.
Yes, she, likewise, was stricken dumb; a-down the long, white road
She stared as one whose steely heart was breaking 'neath its load.
The Golden Girl, who'd seen souls in procession down to Hell,
Became transfixed as though beneath some weird and wondrous spell.

A stillness overwhelmed the place. The bottles on the shelves
Suddenly seemed to look unlike their customary selves.
Even the dog beneath the stool looked up with sleepy eyes;
The very stool itself appeared to tremble with surprise.
What consummated miracle? You well might question why!...
Jamboree Joe had ridden by—yes, he had ridden by!





Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!


Other Poems of Interest...
Home: PoetryExplorer.net