THE MADONNA OF THE CURB

On the curb of a city pavement,

By the ash and garbage cans,

In the stench and rolling thunder

Of motor trucks and vans,

There sits my little lady,

With brave but troubled eyes,

And in her arms a baby

That cries and cries and cries.

She cannot be more than seven;

But years go fast in the slums,

And hard on the pains of winter

The pitiless summer comes.

The wail of sickly children

She knows; she understands

The pangs of puny bodies,

The clutch of small hot hands.

In the deadly blaze of August,

That turns men faint and mad,

She quiets the peevish urchins

By telling a dream she had —

A heaven with marble counters,

And ice, and a singing fan;

And a God in white, so friendly,

Just like the drug-store man.

Her ragged dress is dearer

Than the perfect robe of a queen!

Poor little lass, who knows not

The blessing of being clean.

And when you are giving millions

To Belgian, Pole and Serb,

Remember my pitiful lady —

Madonna of the Curb!