Contents -BIBLIOGRAPHIC RECORD

Harriet Monroe, ed. (1860–1936). The New Poetry: An Anthology. 1917.

Private Rausch

Baker Brownell

PRISONER in life, Rausch, a private,

Thumped at steel-clad existence

Unavailingly.

Caught in the impassive tank

Of the dull day, firm

With a cool crust of metal

Wrapped around his fluid soul,

Rausch thumped and failed

To break the riveting.

Booze Rausch found one day

At a small bar under Corrine’s room,

And soul found vent

In a joyous spout.

Rausch was a gush

Out of a windowless, dull tank;

Soldier life, armor of discipline,

The close tyranny of small events,

Broke, and Rausch, full of booze,

Spouted himself expressively.

Rausch died of tremens one pay-day

While finding his legitimate soul.