Leaves of grass. | ||
4
12 Cold dash of waves at
the ferry-wharf — posh and
ice in the
river, half-frozen mud in the streets,
a gray
discouraged sky overhead, the short last
daylight of
Twelfth-month,
A hearse and stages — other vehicles give place — the funeral of an old Broadway stage-driver, the cortege mostly drivers.
13 Steady the trot to the cemetery, duly rattles the death-bell, the gate is pass'd, the new-dug grave is halted at, the living alight, the hearse un- closes,
The coffin is pass'd out, lower'd and settled, the whip is laid on the coffin, the earth is swiftly shovel'd in,
The mound above is flatted with the spades — silence,
A minute, no one moves or speaks — it is done,
He is decently put away — is there anything more ?
14 He was a good fellow, free-mouth'd, quick-temper'd, not bad-looking, able to take his own part, witty, sensitive to a slight, ready with life or death for a friend, fond of women, gambled, ate hearty, drank hearty, had known what it was to be flush, grew low-spirited toward the last, sicken'd, was help'd by a contribution, died, aged forty-one years — and that was his funeral.
15 Thumb extended, finger uplifted, apron, cape, gloves, strap, wet-weather clothes, whip carefully chosen, boss, spotter, starter, hostler, somebody loafing on you, you loafing on somebody, head- way, man before and man behind, good day's work, bad day's work, pet stock, mean stock, first out, last out, turning-in at night;
To think that these are so much and so nigh to other
drivers
— and he there takes no interest in
them !
A hearse and stages — other vehicles give place — the funeral of an old Broadway stage-driver, the cortege mostly drivers.
13 Steady the trot to the cemetery, duly rattles the death-bell, the gate is pass'd, the new-dug grave is halted at, the living alight, the hearse un- closes,
The coffin is pass'd out, lower'd and settled, the whip is laid on the coffin, the earth is swiftly shovel'd in,
The mound above is flatted with the spades — silence,
A minute, no one moves or speaks — it is done,
He is decently put away — is there anything more ?
14 He was a good fellow, free-mouth'd, quick-temper'd, not bad-looking, able to take his own part, witty, sensitive to a slight, ready with life or death for a friend, fond of women, gambled, ate hearty, drank hearty, had known what it was to be flush, grew low-spirited toward the last, sicken'd, was help'd by a contribution, died, aged forty-one years — and that was his funeral.
15 Thumb extended, finger uplifted, apron, cape, gloves, strap, wet-weather clothes, whip carefully chosen, boss, spotter, starter, hostler, somebody loafing on you, you loafing on somebody, head- way, man before and man behind, good day's work, bad day's work, pet stock, mean stock, first out, last out, turning-in at night;
301
Leaves of grass. | ||