Andrew E. Watrous. Old Saws and See-Saws. Hamilton Fish Armstrong, ed. 1917. The Book of New York Verse

Hamilton Fish Armstrong, ed. The Book of New York Verse. 1917.

Old Saws and See-Saws

By Andrew E. Watrous


FROM Eighth Street up, from Eighth Street down,
This is the manner of this great town:
From Eighth Street up, the women are spurning it;
From Eighth Street down the men are earning it.

Borrowing, buying, begging it, lending it,	5
From Eighth Street up the women are spending it.
’Twill be the manner of this great town
Till Wall Street’s up and Harlem’s down,

Till green grass grows in Tompkins Square,
Till all the “L’s” reduce their fare;	10
From some street up, the women are burning it,
From some street down, the men still earning it;

Father from son, if need be, rending it,
That daughter and wife may still be spending it.
From Eighth Street up, from Eighth Street down—	15
A see-saw rhyme and a see-saw town.