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Collected poems by Vachel Lindsay

revised and illustrated edition
Lindsay, Vachel (1879-1931)

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[dedication]
  
INVOCATION FOR “THE MAP OF THE UNIVERSE”
  
TO EVE, MAN'S DREAM OF WIFEHOOD AS DESCRIBED BY MILTON
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JOHNNY APPLESEED'S WIFE OF THE MIND
  
JOHNNY APPLESEED'S HYMN TO THE SUN
  
JOHNNY APPLESEED'S SHIP COMES IN
  
JOHNNY APPLESEED SPEAKS OF THE APPLEBLOSSOM AMARANTH THAT WILL COME TO THIS CITY
  
JOHNNY APPLESEED'S WIFE FROM THE PALACE OF EVE
  
JOHNNY APPLESEED SPEAKS OF GREAT CITIES IN THE FUTURE
  
HOW JOHNNY APPLESEED WALKED ALONE IN THE JUNGLES OF HEAVEN
  
PARVENU
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COLLECTED POEMS
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SECTION I NIGHTINGALES
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SECTION II ORATIONS, COLLEGE WAR-CRIES, AND OLYMPIC GAMES
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SECTION III LITANY OF THE HEROES
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SECTION IV VERSES OF AN ESPECIALLY INSCRIPTIONAL CHARACTER
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SECTION V MOON-POEMS
  
TO GLORIANA
  
EUCLID
  
THE HAUGHTY SNAIL-KING
  
WHAT THE RATTLESNAKE SAID
  
DRYING THEIR WINGS
  
WHAT THE GRAY-WINGED FAIRY SAID
  
A SENSE OF HUMOR
  
WHAT THE CLOWN SAID
  
ON THE GARDEN WALL
  
WRITTEN FOR A MUSICIAN
  
THE MOON IS A PAINTER
  
THE ENCYCLOPÆDIA
  
WHAT THE MINER IN THE DESERT SAID
  
WHAT THE COAL-HEAVER SAID
  
WHAT THE MOON SAW
  
THE OLD HORSE IN THE CITY
  
THE ROSE OF MIDNIGHT
  
THE PATH IN THE SKY
  
WHAT THE HYENA SAID
  
WHAT THE SNOW MAN SAID
  
WHAT THE SCARECROW SAID
  
WHAT GRANDPA MOUSE SAID
  
THE BEGGAR SPEAKS
  
WHAT THE FORESTER SAID
  
CAUGHT IN A NET
  
MY LADY IN HER WHITE SILK SHAWL
  
BEYOND THE MOON
  
WHAT SEMIRAMIS SAID
  
WHAT THE GHOST OF THE GAMBLER SAID
  
THE STRENGTH OF THE LONELY
  
WHAT THE SEXTON SAID
  
THE SCISSORS-GRINDER
  
The Censer-Moon
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SECTION VI INCENSE AND PRAISE, AND WHIM, AND GLORY
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SECTION VII RUNES OF THE ROAD
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SECTION VIII HOME TOWN
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SECTION IX POLITICS
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SECTION X SONGS BASED ON CARTOONS, BILL-BOARDS, AND AMERICAN HIEROGLYPHICS, AND MOTION-PICTURES
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SECTION XI A SONG BASED ON EGYPTIAN HIEROGLYPHICS:

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232

THE HAUGHTY SNAIL-KING

(What Uncle William Told the Children)

Twelve snails went walking after night.
They'd creep an inch or so,
Then stop and bug their eyes
And blow.
Some folks ... are ... deadly .. slow.
Twelve snails went walking yestereve,
Led by their fat old king.
They were so dull their princeling had
No sceptre, robe or ring—
Only a paper cap to wear
When nightly journeying.
This king-snail said: “I feel a thought
Within ... It blossoms soon. ...
O little courtiers of mine, ...
I crave a pretty boon. ...
Oh, yes ... (High thoughts with effort come
And well-bred snails are ALMOST dumb.)
“I wish I had a yellow crown
As glistering ... as ... the moon.”
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