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Classic and Contemporary Poetry
BILL AND THE SUPE (A MINING CAMP BALLAD), by BERTON BRALEY Poet's Biography First Line: Now listen to me, while I tells to you Last Line: You've heard as much as I heard, that's all! Subject(s): Labor & Laborers; Mines & Miners; Work; Workers | |||
Now listen to me, while I tells to you, The tale of the Supe an' of Bill McGrue. Bill he was takin' a little mope After drillin' his holes in the stuffy stope, An' settlin' down on a timber car He lights a match to a bum cigar. He scurcely more than gits a light When a guy in overalls heaves in sight. "Takin' a rest?" says he to Bill. "You bet," says William, an' sets right still. "Ain't you got nothin' at all to do?" "I have," says Bill, "When I'm ready to." "What would you do," says the stranger guy, "If the shift boss happened to wander by?" "I'd set," says Bill, "like a tired bloke, An' take my time fer my rest an' smoke." "Do you know," says the stranger, "who I am?" "I don't," says William, "nor care a damn!" "Well, I am the superintendent here." Bill's grin extended from ear to ear. "The supe," he says, "of the hull big mine? That's bully," he says, "that's grand, that's fine; "A mighty good job fer a man to git, If I was you I would tend to it!" Then Bill leans back on the empty car An' goes on smokin' his bum cigar. An' then what happened? I don't recall. You've heard as much as I heard, that's all! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...AFTER WORKING SIXTY HOURS AGAIN FOR WHAT REASON by HICOK. BOB DAY JOB AND NIGHT JOB by ANDREW HUDGINS BIXBY'S LANDING by ROBINSON JEFFERS ON BUILDING WITH STONE by ROBINSON JEFFERS LINES FROM A PLUTOCRATIC POETASTER TO A DITCH-DIGGER by FRANKLIN PIERCE ADAMS IN CALIFORNIA: MORNING, EVENING, LATE JANUARY by DENISE LEVERTOV |
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