Gertrude Stein was on her dying bed;
(i.e. she was dying, not the bed) :
the doctor came in, Alice walking ahead;
‘What’s the answer, Doc? ’ said Miss Stein;
that was what Miss Gertrude Stein said.
but the doctor merely shook his head;
standing there at the head of the bed,
side to sighed he shook his head.
Miss Stein was as bright as a bright bright ray
of light until her dying day
(i.e. she was dying, not the day)
and there to the doctor at the head of the bed
she said
‘Then, what’s the question? …’ – leaving
Alice laughing in her grieving
oh yes oh yes Miss Stein was bright,
she, did not rage at the dying of the light.
Michael Shepherd
http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/miss-gertrude-stein-was-as-light-as-a-bright/
