A MAN by the name of Bolus -- (all 'at we'll ever know Of the stranger's name, I reckon -- and I'm kind o' glad it's so!) -- Got off here, Christmas morning, looked 'round the town, and then Kind o' sized up the folks, I guess, and -- went away again! The fac's is, this man Bolus got "run in," Christmas-day; The town turned out to see it, and cheered, and blocked the way; And they dragged him 'fore the Mayor -- fer he couldn't er @3wouldn't@1 walk -- And socked him down fer trial -- though he couldn't er @3wouldn't@1 talk! Drunk? They was no doubt of it! -- W'y, the marshal of the town Laughed and testified 'at he fell @3up@1-stairs 'stid o' @3down!@1 This man by the name of Bolus? -- W'y, he even drapped his jaw And snored on through his "hearin'" -- drunk as you ever saw! One feller spit in his boot-leg, and another 'n' drapped a small Little chunk o' ice down his collar, -- but he didn't wake at all! And they all nearly split when his Honor said, in one of his witty ways, To "chalk it down fer him, 'Called away -- be back in thirty days!'" That's where this man named Bolus slid, kind o' like in a fit, Flat on the floor; and -- drat my ears! I hear 'em a-laughin' yit! Somebody fetched Doc Sifers from jes' acrost the hall -- And all Doc said was, "Morphine! We're too late!" and that's all! That's how they found his name out -- piece of a letter 'at read: "Your wife has lost her reason, and little Nathan's dead -- Come ef you kin, -- fergive @3her@1 -- but, Bolus, as fer @3me@1, This hour I send a bullet through where my heart @3ort@1 to be!" @3Man by the name of Bolus!@1 -- As his revilers broke Fer the open air, 'peared-like, to me, I heerd a voice 'at spoke -- @3Man by the name of Bolus! git up from where you lay@1 -- @3Git up and smile white at 'em, with your hands crossed thataway!@1 | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...SONNET TO TARTAR, A TERRIER BEAUTY by THOMAS LOVELL BEDDOES WINGED MAN by STEPHEN VINCENT BENET THE SNOW-STORM by RALPH WALDO EMERSON BALLADE OF DEAD ACTORS by WILLIAM ERNEST HENLEY SONNET: ON FAME (1) by JOHN KEATS SONNET: 110 by WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE WHEN LET BY RAIN by EDWARD TAYLOR |