Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, MISS ANTHROPE'S ODE TO SPRING, by MORRIS SHUMIATCHER


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

MISS ANTHROPE'S ODE TO SPRING, by                    
First Line: I've heard our poets praise the spring
Last Line: But drives me batty with the heat!
Subject(s): Birds


I've heard our poets praise the spring
In words that birds would blush to sing:
Soft zephyrs that caress the cheek
And crocuses that line the creek,
And blades of grass that peep their heads
From out their dreary winter beds.
I've heard of em'rald boughs whose leaves
Are bent into the robin's eaves,
And of the lovelorn nymphs and swains
Who must blow out their vows or brains.
I've read all this, but not one word
About spring's other face I've heard:
About the coughs and colds he brings
Upon his down and dulcet wings;
It seems that no one cares to speak
About the springtime bones that creak,
About the measles, mumps and 'pox
That plague us every equinox;
Then flies, mosquitos, grubs and worms
Will crawl about with all their germs;
The winds will blow up dust and dirt --
Will raise the clouds, perhaps my skirt;
Then I must mend the old clothes lines
And ladders break and so do spines.
The birds will chatter all day through,
Exchanging silly billets-doux.
Some talk about sweet-scented trees,
But they can offer little ease
To girls who wish and pant and sigh
At every man that passes by.
The cats renew their mating song
And haunt my sleep the whole night long:
Their symphony boasts basses too --
A choir of dogs in rendezvous.
And children kick loud tins and scream,
And I, as loud as they, blaspheme.
The spring inspires most everyone
To lisp an ode unto the sun
Which quickens every pulse's beat
But drives me batty with the heat!





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