Page:Edna St. Vincent Millay - A Few Figs from Thistles.djvu/18

 MACDOUGAL STREET

AS I went walking up and down to take the evening air, (Sweet to meet upon the street, why must I be so shy?) I saw him lay his hand upon her torn black hair; ("Little dirty Latin child, let the lady by!")

The women squatting on the stoops were slovenly and fat, (Lay me out in organdie, lay me out in lawn!) And everywhere I stepped there was a baby or a cat; (Lord, God in Heaven, will it never be dawn?)

The fruit-carts and clam-carts were ribald as a fair, (Pink nets and wet shells trodden under heel) She had haggled from the fruit-man of his rotting ware; (I shall never get to sleep, the way I feel!) He walked like a king through the filth and the clutter, (Sweet to meet upon the street, why did you glance me by?) 14