From a spot by a tree, the speaker watches and listens as neighbors move along the sidewalk. Some are known only by sound or habit: Mrs. Warner hurries to church to pray with her rosary, Mr. Jim walks his big white dog, Uncle Mells limps by with his folk remedies and charms, Miss Jane Anne and Mr. Paul drift home in silence, and a child carries milk to an ailing neighbor. The poem has the feel of a child’s or watchful resident’s portrait of a small community. The repeated line “some go fast and some go slow” gives it a gentle, walking rhythm. There is warmth and curiosity here, but also a little distance—these people are familiar yet not fully known. The speaker feels they “almost speak” to her, which captures a quiet longing for connection with the lives passing by.
People Going By — Summary
Before they come I hear their talk And hear their feet go on the walk.
Some go fast and some go slow, And some of them I almost know.
In mornings they are going down To see somebody in the town.
Or Mrs. Warner hurries past; She has to go and come back fast.
She walks by quick and will not stop, To go to the church with the cross on top.
I think she goes there every day To take her rosary and pray.
And one of them is Mr. Jim-- And the big white dog that follows him.
And one is lame; that's Uncle Mells; He takes off warts by mumbling words, And he can lay on spells.
Or maybe night is almost come, And Miss Jane Anne is going home.
And by her side walks Mr. Paul; They go along with far-off looks And hardly ever talk at all.
Or Murry's child comes up this way To carry milk to poor Miss May
That lives in Wells's other house, Or Joe is driving home his cows.
And some go fast and some go slow, And some of them I almost know.
I can feel them almost speak to me, When they pass by our tree.