University of Virginia Library

Search this document 
Collected poems by Vachel Lindsay

revised and illustrated edition

collapse section 
  
  
  
expand section 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
collapse section 
expand section1. 
expand section2. 
expand section3. 
collapse section4. 
  
  
  
expand section 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
collapse section 
  
  
  
  
  
He Nears the Goal
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
expand section5. 
expand section6. 
expand section7. 
expand section8. 
expand section9. 
expand section10. 
expand section11. 

He Nears the Goal

How the red bells rang
As I neared the Chaos-shore!
As I flew across to the end of the West
The young bells rang and rang
Above the Chaos roar,
And the Wings of the Morning
Beat in tune

216

And bore me like a bird along—
And the nearing star turned to a moon—
Gray moon, with a brow of red—
Gray moon with a golden song.
Like a diver after pearls
I plunged to that stifling floor.
It was wide as a giant's wheat-field
An icy, wind-washed shore.
O laughing, proud, but trembling star!
O wind that wounded sore!