Collected poems by Vachel Lindsay revised and illustrated edition |
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SWEET BRIARS OF THE STAIRWAYS |
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 | Collected poems by Vachel Lindsay |  |
SWEET BRIARS OF THE STAIRWAYS
We are happy all the time
Even when we fight:
Sweet briars of the stairways,
Gay fairies of the grime;
We, who are playing to-night.
Even when we fight:
Sweet briars of the stairways,
Gay fairies of the grime;
We, who are playing to-night.
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“Our feet are in the gutters,
Our eyes are sore with dust,
But still our eyes are bright.
The wide street roars and mutters—
We know it works because it must—
We, who are playing to-night!
Our eyes are sore with dust,
But still our eyes are bright.
The wide street roars and mutters—
We know it works because it must—
We, who are playing to-night!
“Dirt is everlasting.—We never, never fear it.
Toil is never-ceasing.—We will play until we near it.
Tears are never-ending.—When once real tears have come;
Toil is never-ceasing.—We will play until we near it.
Tears are never-ending.—When once real tears have come;
“When we see our people as they are—
Our fathers—broken, dumb—
Our mothers—broken, dumb—
The weariest of women and of men;
Ah—then our eyes will lose their light—
Then we will never play again—
We, who are playing to-night.”
Our fathers—broken, dumb—
Our mothers—broken, dumb—
The weariest of women and of men;
Ah—then our eyes will lose their light—
Then we will never play again—
We, who are playing to-night.”
| Collected poems by Vachel Lindsay | |