FAST RAN THE PLUMP MAN

(With apologies to Stephen Crane)

Fast ran the plump man

With plate, hot and reeking,

Ever waving an eager fork,

“To eat my dinner!”

Fast ran the plump man,

And leaped from car to table.

Men of bread, buttered and steamed

Like riot of mashed potatoes,

And the gold trim of the man’s napkin

Still waved above his lap.

. . . . .

A vegetable,

Raw, green, healthy thing,

Forgotten at the foot of the plate.

A vegetable

Untouched at the foot of the plate.

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FAST RODE THE KNIGHT

Fast rode the knight
With spurs, hot and reeking,
Ever waving an eager sword,
“To save my lady!”
Fast rode the knIght,
And leaped from saddle to war.
Men of steel flickered and gleamed
Like riot of silver lights,
And the gold of the knight’s good banner
Still waved on a castle wall.
. . . . .
A horse,
Blowing, staggering, bloody thing,
Forgotten at foot of castle wall.
A horse
Dead at foot of castle wall.

-Stephen Crane