Page:A Treasury of South African Poetry.djvu/77

Rh Here be ever Jew and Gentile, Briton, German, Dago, Pole,— Mostly young and mostly reckless, some unkempt or liquor-stained; Here and there a grizzled hobo, or be-painted, draggled troll; Here and there an eager seeker for the labour yet ungained; Not alone for rank or station may Titania's maidens bring Happy dreams of happy Dixie to the people slumbering.

Here's a lad—and ne'er a razor licked the smoothness of his chin,— Curly-headed, slim and supple, coiled within a corner seat, Worn at heel, and frayed at elbow, blistered foot, and roughened skin— God! how far we have to wander for a little bread to eat! Puck, who puts on mortal eyelids filmy cobwebs, hither, quick! Take the boy across the water, he is ill or mammy-sick.

Fires of life among your ashes, what have ye to give or gain, In that haggard shell and ancient, snoring on with mouth agape? What among your outworn pleasures hold ye now, and what remain, Heartsome still,—a rank old cutty and a little juice of grape?