Kemper Hammond Broadus. Burnt out. Harriet Monroe, ed. Poetry: A Magazine of Verse. 1912-22

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

Burnt out

By Kemper Hammond Broadus


From “Rough Ways” I STARTED laying sod along the roof
While the smoke thickened. Blown from tree to tree,
The fire came on…. At last I dropped the spade,
And bitterly

I watched the timbers smolder and catch fire;	5
Heard the flame chuckling at the work I’d done—
A pleasant mouthful! Even now I can’t
Quite see the fun.