He polished snubs till they were regnant art, Curling their shameless toilets round the hour. Each lay upon his lips an exquisite flower Subtly malign and poisoned for its part. The path of victims was no wanton plan -- He had bowed his head in sorrow at his birth, For he had said long ere he came to earth That it was no place for a gentleman. But always a heart-scald lurked behind the screen, And somehow he missed the ultimate degrees. He saw a beggar at the daylight's fall And then he rose and robbed him for the scene; And when they called him cad he found release -- He felt he had used the finest snub of all. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...SPOON RIVER ANTHOLOGY: JACOB GODBEY by EDGAR LEE MASTERS A MOTHER'S PICTURE by EDMUND CLARENCE STEDMAN HOUSEHOLD POEMS: 1. BRONWEN by PHILIP EDWARD THOMAS IN SCHOOL-DAYS by JOHN GREENLEAF WHITTIER WHAT THEY ASK by FRANKLIN PIERCE ADAMS THE OLD BRIDGE by AUGUSTE ANGELLIER A VIOLINIST by FRANCIS WILLIAM BOURDILLON |