Spring and All: XIX [This is the time of year]

This is the time of year

when boys fifteen and seventeen

wear two horned lilac blossoms

in their caps — or over one ear

What is it that does this ?

It is a certain sort —

drivers for grocers or taxidrivers

white and colored —

fellows that let their hair grow long

in a curve over one eye —

Horned purple

Dirty satyrs, it is

vulgarity raised to the last power

They have stolen them

broken the bushes apart

with a curse for the owner —

Lilacs —

They stand in the doorways

on the business streets with a sneer

on their faces

adorned with blossoms

Out of their sweet heads

dark kisses — rough faces