 | The select poems of Dr. Thomas Dunn English (exclusive of the "Battle lyrics") |  |
IV.
In most of these daily walks he metA business man who seemed quite needy,
Whose coat was glossy, whose hat-rim's “set”
Had the curve of age, and whose look was seedy;
But whether the day was dark or light,
At the close of the morn, or the coming of night;
Whether the earth was parched and dry,
Or the rain fell fast from the cloudy sky,
This seedy man looked always worried,
As through the avenues swift he hurried,
With brow that was wrinkled with constant thought,
And the lines that a life of action had wrought;
All proving as clearly as anything can,
That this was a stirring and worrying man;
And, whatever his knowledge, that he never knew
The terrible trouble of nothing to do.
“By Jove,” said Captain Van Brunck, said he,
“This is the fellow, I think, for me.
He could relieve all my care, without doubt,
By giving me plenty to care about.
I'll ask him to indicate some pursuit,
And whatever he tells me to do, I'll do 't.”
| The select poems of Dr. Thomas Dunn English (exclusive of the "Battle lyrics") | |