Laura Sherry

From “A Town on the River”

YES, I know—

I’m tryin’ to hog these woods.

I’m worse than any capitalist or corporation judge or profiteer.

But, damn it!—

I couldn’t live in one o’ them neat little cities—

I’d smother.

I like to live in a lean-to tent,

Its peak against the air,

With the flap up so’s I can breathe;

And in the winter, jest outside for company,

A big fire burnin’.

No, I ain’t advertisin’ anythin’ around here.

It’s for them to come who has the eyes to see.

And—sufferin’ Moses!—

I ain’t prayin’ God to give ’em eyes.

Can’t everybody live in the woods—it ain’t big enough.

Some have got to live in the city.