*
Submit
Login
Links
Contests
Featured Poems
Fun & Games
Poems
Poets
Famous Poems
Famous Poets
Dictionary
Poem Types
Books
Resources
Blogs
Syllable Counter
Articles
Forum
POTD
New Poems
Anthology
Classifieds
Quotes
*
Contests
Featured Poems
Fun & Games
Poems
Poets
Famous Poems
Famous Poets
Fun & Games
Dictionary
Types of Poems
Books
Resources
Blogs
Syllable Counter
Articles
Forum
Poem of the Day
New Poems
Anthology
Classifieds
Quotes
Email Poem
Your IP Address: 162.159.114.57
From Email:
Required
Email Address Not Valid.
To Email:
Email Address Not Valid.
Required
Subject
Required
Personal Note:
Poem Title:
Poem
For supper we had curried tripe. I washed the dishes, wound the clock; Then for awhile I smoked my pipe - Puff! Puff! We had no word of talk. The Misses sewed - a sober pair; Says I at last: "I need some air." A don't know why I acted so; I had no thought, no plot, no plan. I did not really mean to go - I'm such a docile little man; But suddenly I felt that I Must change my life or I would die. A sign I saw: A ROOM TO LET. It had a musty, dusty smell; It gloated gloom, it growled and yet Somehow I felt I liked it well. I paid the rent a month ahead: That night I smoked my pipe in bed. From out my world I disappeared; My walk and talk changed over-night. I bought black glasses, grew a beard - Abysmally I dropped from sight; Old Tax Collector, Mister Smith Became a memory, a myth. I see my wife in widow's weeds; She's gained in weight since I have gone. My pension serves her modest needs, She keeps the old apartment on; And living just a block away I meet her nearly every day. I hope she doesn't mourn too much; She has a sad and worried look. One day we passed and chanced to touch, But as with sudden fear I shook, So blankly in my face she peered, I had to chuckle in my beard. Oh, comfort is a blessed thing, But forty years of it I had. I never drank the wine of Spring, No moon has ever made me mad. I never clutched the skirts of Chance Nor daftly dallied with Romance. And that is why I seek to save My soul before it is too late, To put between me and the grave A few years of fantastic fate: I've won to happiness because I've killed the man that once I was. I've murdered Income Taxer Smith, And now I'm Johnny Jones to you. I have no home, no kin, no kith, I do the things I want to do. No matter though I've not a friend, I've won to freedom in the end. Bohemian born, I guess, was I; And should my wife her widowhood By wedlock end I will not sigh, But pack my grip and go for good, To live in lands where laws are lax, And innocent of Income Tax.
Type the characters you see in the picture
Required
Member Area
My Admin
Profile and Settings
Edit My Poems
Edit My Quotes
Edit My Short Stories
Edit My Articles
My Comments Inboxes
My Comments Outboxes
My Poetry Duels
Soup Mail
Poetry Contests
Contest Results/Status
Followers
Poems of Poets I Follow
Friend Builder
Member Authors
Poetry Challenges
Soup Social
Poetry Forum
New/Upcoming Features
The Wall
Soup Facebook Page
Who is Online
Link to Us
Member Poems
Featured Poems of the Week
Poems - Top 100 New
Poems - Top 100 All-Time
Poems - Best
Poems - by Topic
Poems - New
Poems - Read
Poems - Unread
Member Poets
Best New Poets
New Poets
Top 100 Poets with Most Poems
Top 100 Poets with Most Poems Recent
Top 100 Community Poets
Top 100 Contest Poets
In Memoriam
Famous Poems
Famous Poems - African American
Famous Poems - Best
Famous Poems - Classical
Famous Poems - English
Famous Poems - Haiku
Famous Poems - Love
Famous Poems - Short
Famous Poems - Top 100
Famous Poets
Famous Poets - Living
Famous Poets - 100 Most Popular
Famous Poets - Women
Famous Poets - African American
Famous Poets - Beat
Famous Poets - Cinquain
Famous Poets - Classical
Famous Poets - English
Famous Poets - Haiku
Famous Poets - Hindi
Famous Poets - Jewish
Famous Poets - Love
Famous Poets - Metaphysical
Famous Poets - Modern
Famous Poets - Punjabi
Famous Poets - Romantic
Famous Poets - Spanish
Famous Poets - Suicidal
Famous Poets - Urdu
Famous Poets - War
Poetry Resources
Anagrams
Bible
Book Store
Character Counter
Cliché Finder
Poetry Clichés
Common Words
Copyright Information
Grammar
Grammar Checker
Greeting Card Maker
Homonym
Homophones
How to Write a Poem
Lyrics
Love Poem Generator
New Poetic Forms
Plagiarism Checker
Poetry
Poetry Art
Publishing
Random Word Generator
Short Stories
Spell Checker
Videos
Word Counter