These are the days when I can love the town; Now, when the year is clean and new and sweet. When the great mountain schooners rumble down, White-crested, and slow-moving, fleet on fleet, Leading a spotted heifer, or a steer, A rangy mule or two, a pair of hounds; To barter for a flowered calico, A ribbon for the red-cheeked daughter's hair, And black tobacco for the coming year. Now there is laughter in the open square, Complaint of brakes, and cracking of the whips, Loud banter while the old horse-trader's mare Is auctioned -- old songs vie with older quips. The girls go flocking up and down the street, A startled wonder in their hill-blue eyes, Amazement and delight upon their lips. Men, seeming much too large for crowding walls, Stride down the street, and answer with a hail The greetings of acquaintances they meet. Boys strut the pavement in new overalls, And trade unendingly in dogs and guns; While wagon-hoods frame wan, madonna faces That quiver into eager fleeting smiles, And there is talk of undiscovered places Above the soaring laurel-bordered miles. Soon aflame azaleas on the mountain-side Will smolder out and die; the laurel tide Will sway and hesitate at summer's touch. Then they will pass, these people that I know, And understand a little, and love much. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...BENEDICTION by GEORGIA DOUGLAS JOHNSON A SUMMER EVENING'S MEDITATION by ANNA LETITIA BARBAULD DESCRIPTION OF SPRING by HENRY HOWARD ON THE PORTRAIT OF SHAKESPEARE by BEN JONSON STILL FALLS THE RAIN; THE RAIDS, 1940. NIGHT AND DAWN by EDITH SITWELL NORTHERN EARTH MOOD by WILLIAM HERVEY ALLEN JR. SONNETS OF MANHOOD: 36. STRONG, LIKE THE SEA by GEORGE BARLOW (1847-1913) |