I work all day,
Said Simple John,
Myself a house to buy.
I work all day,
Said Simple John,
But Pierrot wondered why.
For Pierrrot loved the long white road,
And Pierrot loved the moon,
And Pierrot loved a star-filled sky,
And the breath of a rose in June.
I have one wife,
Said Simple John,
And,faith,I love her yet.
I have one wife,
Said Simple John,
But Pierrot left Pierrette.
For Pierrot saw a world of girls,
And Pierrot loved each one,
And Pierrot thought all maidens fair
As flowers in the sun.
Oh, I am good,
Said Simple John,
The Lord will take me in.
Yes, I am good,
Said Simple John,
But Pierrot’s steeped in sin.
For Pierrot played on a slim guitar,
And Pierrot loved the moon,
And Pierrot ran down the long white road
With the burgher’s wife one June.
(Langston Hughes)
More Poetry from Langston Hughes:
Langston Hughes Poems based on Topics: World, Sin- Advertisemen (Langston Hughes Poems)
- Cultural Exchange (Langston Hughes Poems)
- Brass Spittoons (Langston Hughes Poems)
- Trumpet Player (Langston Hughes Poems)
- The Ballad Of The Landlord (Langston Hughes Poems)
- Sylvester's Dying Bed (Langston Hughes Poems)
Readers Who Like This Poem Also Like:
Based on Topics: World Poems, Sin PoemsBased on Keywords: burgher, pierrot, pierrette, star-filled