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Classic and Contemporary Poetry


SCORN by FRANCES BAKER

First Line: HE MADE HIS BRAG
Last Line: THEIR LOUD CONTEMPTUOUS GUFFAW.

He made his brag:
"I'll not work my guts out
In these damned mines --
I'll marry a rich Indian!"
And he did.

She was fat and lazy;
He grew fat and lazy;
They had ten children
that swarmed about their door --
unclothed.

And the miner-boys laughed
Their loud contemptuous guffaw,
And swaggered --
They put their hungry lips
to bright red ones;
And pulled a blonde head close --
and laughed
Their loud contemptuous guffaw.



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