FURTIVE as those condemned to dwell Behind such doors as iron locks, Men pace the narrow city blocks Each cringing in his cell, Where even the sound of grim footfalls Is caught and beaten back by walls. The desperate man who half escapes To that half freedom called a park, Like some marauder in the dark, Hastes with uncertain steps Beside a river, steel-bridge-barred, Water made grim by walls, and hard. He sees a narrow plane of light Carve from the water sunbeam chips; Shavings of day-dust float like ships Flashing with gold and white. He laughs to see the fancied fleet Drift toward the landing at his feet. Once a knife flashed, and shavings strewed A shipyard; where, bare-ankle-deep, Boys waded through a yellow heap Of flaked and powdered wood. The air gleamed thick with dusty motes, Fragrant with all the smells of boats. Clouds swing across the light of day, Close their grey doors against the skies: The fire upon the water dies; The chips are ashen grey. The dreamer gropes. His fingers feel The river fence, the bars of steel. Behind such doors as iron locks Childhood itself has gone to dwell. He turns again to face the cell, To pace the narrow city blocks. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...REPORT OF AN ADJUDGED CASE, NOT TO BE FOUND IN ANY BOOKS by WILLIAM COWPER BEAVER BROOK by JAMES RUSSELL LOWELL ANIMAL CRACKERS by CHRISTOPHER DARLINGTON MORLEY THE VACANT CAGE (1) by CHARLES TENNYSON TURNER TO MYRTILLA OF NEW YORK by FRANKLIN PIERCE ADAMS BIRDS OF PASSAGE: PRELUDE by MATHILDE BLIND |