One is accustomed to see on rainy sidewalks
brown worms, and on lawns some listening robins.
One is accustomed to hear anxious women
call from the doors of their white stucco houses,
call to their wet and possibly sick children,
who want to play outside in spite of rainfall.
brown worms, and on lawns some listening robins.
One is accustomed to hear anxious women
call from the doors of their white stucco houses,
call to their wet and possibly sick children,
who want to play outside in spite of rainfall.
Who crouch where lilac leaves are dripping rainfall—
some ways from worms that loll along the sidewalks.
Their chatter interferes with the rapt robins,
which stalk an absent prey. Meanwhile the women
cannot wait uncertain in their houses,
but set out, meaning to call home ther children.
some ways from worms that loll along the sidewalks.
Their chatter interferes with the rapt robins,
which stalk an absent prey. Meanwhile the women
cannot wait uncertain in their houses,
but set out, meaning to call home ther children.
Ignoring birds and women, the children
are digging little holes to catch the rainfall.
The birds stick to the grass, avoiding sidewalks
on which worms would be easy prey for robins.
Peering here and there, the determined women
March through whole city blocks of boxy houses.
are digging little holes to catch the rainfall.
The birds stick to the grass, avoiding sidewalks
on which worms would be easy prey for robins.
Peering here and there, the determined women
March through whole city blocks of boxy houses.
And cannot bring themselves to return to houses,
to sit and wait for their ungrateful children,
who never will come in out of the rainfall
but hide away, remote from the tired sidewalks
on which the brown worms crawl, secure from robins,
though not from the sharp tread of striding women.
to sit and wait for their ungrateful children,
who never will come in out of the rainfall
but hide away, remote from the tired sidewalks
on which the brown worms crawl, secure from robins,
though not from the sharp tread of striding women.
Nothing, it seems, can discourage these stern women.
Nothing can contain them. The wretched houses
could not restrain them. Like reckless children,
they scorn all shelter against steady rainfall,
the one to pace the broad, worm-slimy sidewalks,
the other to pose obstacles for robins.
Nothing can contain them. The wretched houses
could not restrain them. Like reckless children,
they scorn all shelter against steady rainfall,
the one to pace the broad, worm-slimy sidewalks,
the other to pose obstacles for robins.
And no one thinks about the silly robins,
neither the inconsiderate children nor the women,
and the robins have no use for the stuffy houses.
What must we think? If the bad children
would just go home, would lush, warm rainfall
bring e'er-abiding joy to worms on sidewalks?
neither the inconsiderate children nor the women,
and the robins have no use for the stuffy houses.
What must we think? If the bad children
would just go home, would lush, warm rainfall
bring e'er-abiding joy to worms on sidewalks?
Who blames the women? They would fill the houses.
Who feeds the birds? Who paved the crossing sidewalks?
Who feeds the birds? Who paved the crossing sidewalks?
