Go down this street a block, find Burney Cole And ask him why I was not graduated From Sepo's High School at the time he was. It was this way: I fell in love that spring With Lillie Balzer, and it ended us, Lillie and me, for finishing that year. I thought of Lillie morning, noon and night And Lillie thought of me, and so we flunked. That thinned the class to Burney Cole, and he Stood up and spoke twelve minutes scared to death. Progress of Science was his theme, committed To memory, the gestures timed, they trained him Out in the woods near Big Creek. Lil and I Sat there and laughed--the town was in the hall, Applause terrific, bouquets thick as hops. And when they handed Burney his diploma The crowd went wild. How does this razor work? Not shaving you too close? I try to please... Burney was famous for a night, you see. They thought his piece was wonderful, such command Of language, depth of thought beyond his years. Next morning with his ears and cheeks still burning, Flushed like a god, as Keats says, Burney stood Behind the counter in the grocery store Beginning then to earn the means to take A course in Science--when a customer Came in and said: a piece of star tobacco, Young fellow, hurry! Such is fame--one night You're on a platform gathering in bouquets, Next morning without honor and forgotten, Commanded like a boot-black. Five years now Burney has clerked, some say has given up The course in science, and I hate to ask him... But as for me, there was a lot of talk, And Lillie went away, began to sport. She's been around the world, is living now In Buenos Ayres. Love's a funny thing: It levels ranks, puts monarch or savant Beside the chorus girl and in her hands. I stayed here, did not have to leave for shame, But Lillie changed my life. When she was gone My conscience hurt me, and that very fall When I was most susceptible, responsive, And penitent, we had a great revival. And just to use the lingo: after much Wrestling at the Seat of Mercy, prayers And ministrations then I saw the light, Became converted, got the ecstasy. I wrote to Lillie who was in Chicago To seek salvation, told her of myself. She wrote back, you are cracked--go take a pill.... I know you've come to get your hair trimmed, shaved, Also to hear my story--you shall hear. The elders saw in me a likely man And said there is a preacher. First I knew They had a purse made up to send me off To learn theology, and so I went.