 | Poems on Several Occasions |  |
174
DESCRIPTION Of an Old WOMAN.
A wither'd Crone I spi'd within a Wood,Full fourscore Years had chill'd her frozen Blood:
Her Eyes (if Eyes she had) could scarce appear,
The flowing Rheum just mark'd out where they were
Her Nose projecting from her wrinkled Face,
Stoop'd to the rising Chin with fond Embrace;
Like a broad Save-All to the dropping Snout,
Her Under-Lip in Bass Reliefe stuck out.
Like Joseph she appear'd to outward View,
A patch'd and pie-ball'd Wretch, of various Hue!
175
Flew off in Scraps, and scented all behind:
Trembling with Age, she mumbled as she went,
Hoarse rattling Coughs still lab'ring for a Vent,
All on dry Sticks, and shrivel'd Leaves intent.
| Poems on Several Occasions | |