Carlyle McIntyre. The Scissor-grinder. Harriet Monroe, ed. Poetry: A Magazine of Verse. 1912-22

Harriet Monroe, ed. (1860–1936). Poetry: A Magazine of Verse. 1912–22.

The Scissor-grinder

By Carlyle McIntyre


From “On the Road” THE SCISSOR-MAN tramped into town. Ding-a-dong! ding-a-dong!
He set his little grindstone down, and to its music hummed a song.

Old Grandma Dumpkins’ scissor-shears, he edged their blades so finely
That she cut off her children’s ears and made them sing divinely.

And Gaffer Smither’s pruning-hook he whetted to such keenness	5
That Gaffer trimmed the town, and took the shade away for meanness.

But furthermore, the butcher’s knife he rounded off so dully,
That cattle now enjoy their life and fill the milkpails fully.

Then—ding-a-dong! ding-a-dong! I saw his red hat top the hill;
But all night long I heard his song played by his brother watermill.	10