What I Have Seen #5

Ella Wheeler Wilcox 1855 (Janesville) – 1919



I saw a Christian, a temperance man,
Casting his ballot one day at the polls:
One who believes he does what he can
Toward the reclaiming and saving of souls.
And may be he does-may be he does!
I don't say he doesn't, but may be he does!

I saw his candidate sipping his beer,
Wiping his moustache and lapping his jaws;
And I said to myself, 'It's decidedly queer,
If this is the man that should help make our laws.'
But may be he is-may be he is!
I won't say it outright, but may be he is!

I saw an old drunkard fall in the street:
I saw my Christian man mournfully pass,
And mournfully say to the sot at his feet:
'I have done what I could for such wrecks, but, alas!'
Well, may be he had-may be he had!
I don't say he hadn't, but may be he had!

I know a party that's forming to-day,
Made out of men that are loyal and brave:
They will sweep liquor taxes and tariffs away,
For they never will vote for a drinking old knave.
You see if they do! you see if they do!
I don't say I know, but you see if they do!

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Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on March 05, 2023

1:05 min read
87

Quick analysis:

Scheme ABABCC DEDEFF GHGHII JKJKLL
Closest metre Iambic pentameter
Characters 992
Words 212
Stanzas 4
Stanza Lengths 6, 6, 6, 6

Ella Wheeler Wilcox

Ella Wheeler Wilcox was an American author and poet. more…

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    "What I Have Seen #5" Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 28 Mar. 2024. <https://www.poetry.com/poem/10987/what-i-have-seen-#5>.

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