The Old Men (Williams)

For works with similar titles, see The Old Men.

←Riposte

The Old Men by William Carlos Williams

Pastoral→

from Al Que Quiere! (1917)

Old men who have studied
every leg show
in the city
Old men cut from touch
by the perfumed music—
polished or fleeced skulls
that stand before
the whole theater
in silent attitudes
of attention,—
old men who have taken precedence
over young men
and even over dark-faced
husbands whose minds
are a street with arc-lights.
Solitary old men for whom
we find no excuses—
I bow my head in shame
for those who malign you.
Old men
the peaceful beer of impotence
be yours!

Notes and references

• taken from A Book of Poems: Al Que Quiere!

This work is in the public domain in the United States because it was published before January 1, 1923. It may be copyrighted outside the U.S. (see Help:Public domain).