On The Road

The high road stretches straight and white Away To dreamy distance, on and on-- The day Dawns sharp and foggy; nips the driver’s Nose, Despite his costly furs. Zounds! How It blows! The motor purrs!--Our mobile seems To fly, Nor touch the ground... (Pneumatic Mystery!) The motor purrs!--Farewell wood, field And stream! Once on the road, we’ve scanty time To dream! The motor purrs!--Look out! A sheer Decline. Temptation whispers: Faster here! It’s fine! Faster? It’s madness! Yes, I know!-- But on! Full speed down hill! Another record Gone!... The driver plunges out of view... See, there He climbs the distant slope again. I swear He’d scale Olympus! Yet that course Is clear From many mishaps that beset Us here! We crush a curséd mongrel in The dust! Slow down to miss an English spinster, Just Graze by her on her clumsy, ancient Wheel!-- Rout ducks and chickens, set the pigs A-squeal! It’s not our fault! We can’t be kept All day To clear the road!... Speed on!--Away! Away!...