- 1. The Life Of Lincoln West
Ugliest little boy
that everyone ever saw.
That is what everyone said.
...
- 2. The Lovers Of The Poor
arrive. The Ladies from the Ladies' Betterment League
Arrive in the afternoon, the late light slanting
In diluted gold bars across the boulevard brag
Of proud, seamed faces with mercy and murder hinting
...
- 3. The Sundays Of Satin-legs Smith
Inamoratas, with an approbation,
Bestowed his title. Blessed his inclination.
He wakes, unwinds, elaborately: a cat
...
- 4. Sadie And Maud
Maud went to college.
Sadie stayed home.
Sadie scraped life
With a fine toothed comb.
...
- 5. My Dreams, My Works, Must Wait Till After Hell
I hold my honey and I store my bread
In little jars and cabinets of my will.
I label clearly, and each latch and lid
I bid, Be firm till I return from hell.
...
- 6. The Ballad Of Rudolph Reed
Rudolph Reed was oaken.
His wife was oaken too.
And his two good girls and his good little man
Oakened as they grew.
...
- 7. Speech To The Young : Speech To The Progress-toward
Say to them,
say to the down-keepers,
the sun-slappers,
the self-soilers,
...
- 8. One Wants A Teller In A Time Like This
One wants a teller in a time like this
One's not a man, one's not a woman grown
To bear enormous business all alone.
...
