WHENE'ER an auction bill I see On barn or hayscales, bridge or tree, Or stuck outside the village store, Or tacked against the gristmill door— I wonder if the auction game Is played the same, or 'bout the same, As in those days of youthful cheer When Albert Burk was auctioneer. His righthand eye had quite an ail, But he could see enough to nail The nod or wink or shoulder-shrug That sold the fambly pung or plug; The only time he lost a bid Was when he stopped to shift his quid; If he was living now and here, The wise would say, "Some auctioneer!" It took a man to act as clerk When stuff was auctioned off by Burk; I've seen him sell a farm and stock And get all through by two o'clock; One time he sold for mason Flower Jest sixty things in jest an hour; He always run on topnotch gear, Al Burk, my boyhood's auctioneer. He'd hold a bedpost up and say, "Now ladies, kindly step this way— I'll bet you all a pound of gum No wingless beast has ever come Within a mile, yes; call it two, Of this fine bed I'll sell to you; My word, it doesn't go too dear, Bid up and help the auctioneer." What'er he tried to sell he sold, He turned some awful truck to gold; The things that wouldn't "leave the shelf," He made a bluff to buy himself, And when he sold a widder out His pay was only half, about; The Universlists far and near Was proud of Burk, the auctioneer. He taught Hank White his merry trade And so his own successor made; Each year his fame, a rising tide, Embraced new towns on every side; 'Tis said that as his end drew on They heard him whisper, "Going, Gone!" Thus @3sans reproche@1 and void of fear He lived and died an auctioneer. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...A MAN'S REQUIREMENTS by ELIZABETH BARRETT BROWNING SONG OF SAUL BEFORE HIS LAST BATTLE by GEORGE GORDON BYRON THE COMET AT YELL'HAM by THOMAS HARDY AFTERMATH by SIEGFRIED SASSOON A SUPPLEMENT OF AN IMPERFECT COPY OF VERSES OF MR. WILL. SHAKESPEARE'S by JOHN SUCKLING |