Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, ed. Poems of Places: An Anthology in 31 Volumes.
Scotland: Vols. VI–VIII. 1876–79.
The High Street
By Sir Alexander Boswell (17751822)(From Edinburgh, or the Ancient Royalty)
T
Full many a leg is hit and curse is given.
There on the pavement mystic forms are chalked,
Defaced, renewed, delayed, but never balked.
There romping Miss the rounded slate may drop,
And kick it out with persevering hop.
There in the dirty current of the strand
Boys drop the rival corks with ready hand,
And, wading through the puddle with slow pace,
Watch in solicitude the doubtful race!