HAVE you been in our wild west country? then You have often had to pass Its cabins lying like birds' nests in The wild green prairie grass. Have you seen the women forget their wheels As they sat at the door to spin -- Have you seen the darning fall away From their fingers worn and thin, As they asked you news of the villages Where they were used to be, Gay girls at work in the factories With their lovers gone to sea! Ah, have you thought of the bravery That no loud praise provokes -- Of the tragedies acted in the lives Of poor, hard-working folks! Of the little more, and the little more Of hardship which they press Upon their own tired hands to make The toil for the children less: And not in vain; for many a lad Born to rough work and ways, Strips off his ragged coat, and makes Men clothe him with their praise. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...PRIMROSE by WILLIAM CARLOS WILLIAMS I LOVE ALL BEAUTEOUS THINGS by ROBERT SEYMOUR BRIDGES SONNETS FROM THE PORTUGUESE: 43 by ELIZABETH BARRETT BROWNING THE CONVERGENCE OF THE TWAIN; LINES ON LOSS OF THE TITANIC by THOMAS HARDY SAILING BEYOND SEAS (OLD STYLE) by JEAN INGELOW EPITAPHS OF THE WAR, 1914-18: 'EQUALITY OF SACRIFICE' by RUDYARD KIPLING ON A MAGAZINE SONNET by RUSSELL HILLARD LOINES |