  Where did you go, pale Susie, after the day You left the service of the boarding house? The night before we made carouse And danced the time away. We boys were in the kitchen and were drinking Small beer—you slapped the hands of us Who stroked your arms half amorous— Where did you go, I’m thinking? Medical students up at Hahnemann Hunt women on a Saturday night. And sing, tell tales, and verse recite, And rush the forbidden can. The paltry mistress made you pay for all The fault of us, and packed you out of doors When you had scrubbed the floors, And swept the entrance hall. I watched you in your faded cloak and hat With canvas bag walk towards the Grove. Then something in my fancy hove, Laughing I caught you at Where I had tracked you round from thirty-first. You laughed and cried and called me worst Of devils on two feet. There I had followed you and seized you when You did not care what happened, so You fell into my hands, you know— ’Tis twenty years since then. I never saw you after that, nor heard In all this city aught of you. You vanished like a blot of dew, Or ashen hued seed bird. I wonder if you wed a red bull-throat Who ran a rivet hammer, drove a truck, Bore many children or worse luck Went where the drift weeds float.... |
|
