Boll-weevil's coming, and the winter's cold, Boll-weevil's coming, and the winter's cold, Made cotton-stalks look rusty, seasons old, Made cotton- stalks look rusty, season's old, And cotton, scarce as any southern snow, And cotton, scarce as any southern snow, Was vanishing; the branch, so pinched and slow, Was vanishing; the branch, so pinched and slow, Failed in its function as the autumn rake; Failed in its function as the autumn rake; Drouth fighting soil had caused the soil to take Drought fighting soil had caused the soil to take All water from the streams; dead birds were found All water from the streams; dead birds were found In wells a hundred feet below the ground- In wells a hundred feet below the ground -- Such was the season when the flower bloomed. Such was the season when the flower bloomed. Old folks were startled, and it soon assumed Old folks were startled , and it soon assumed Significance. Superstition saw Significance. Superstition saw Something it had never seen before: Something it had never seen before: Brown eyes that loved without a trace of fear, Brown eyes that loved without a trace of fear, Beauty so sudden for that time of year. Beauty so sudden for that time of year. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...TO W.P.: 2 by GEORGE SANTAYANA THE LIVING DEAD by RALPH CHAPLIN FANCY IN NUBIBUS; OR, THE POET IN THE CLOUDS by SAMUEL TAYLOR COLERIDGE THE HOUSE OF LIFE: 54. LOVE'S FATALITY by DANTE GABRIEL ROSSETTI |