| Harriet Monroe, ed. (1860–1936). Poetry: A Magazine of Verse. 1912–22. | | | | Jest | | By Louis Grudin |
| | | IN a gutter between wind-bitten glaciers, | |
| A little man stands, blowing upon a toy. | |
| Is he not mad—is he not audacious, | |
| In such a curious place, in such employ? | |
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| The wind’s blue insult swells upon his face. | 5 |
| A whisking hunger, like a mouse at bay, | |
| Has cowed his eyes which, vaguely in disgrace, | |
| Bear up the heavy menace of Broadway. | |
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| A dim presentiment of an awful hoax | |
| Scalded his heart and simmered to his feet— | 10 |
| The secret jest that counted off the strokes | |
| Of hours men spent at various tasks secrete, | |
| That made of some of them quite obvious jokes, | |
| And saved for others labors more discreet. | | | | |
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