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University of Virginia Library

Collected poems by Vachel Lindsay

revised and illustrated edition

Lindsay, Vachel (1879-1931)

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INVOCATION FOR “THE MAP OF THE UNIVERSE”

TO EVE, MAN'S DREAM OF WIFEHOOD AS DESCRIBED BY MILTON

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

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COLLECTED POEMS

1.

SECTION I NIGHTINGALES

2.

SECTION II ORATIONS, COLLEGE WAR-CRIES, AND OLYMPIC GAMES

3.

SECTION III LITANY OF THE HEROES

4.

SECTION IV VERSES OF AN ESPECIALLY INSCRIPTIONAL CHARACTER

5.

SECTION V MOON-POEMS

6.

SECTION VI INCENSE AND PRAISE, AND WHIM, AND GLORY

7.

SECTION VII RUNES OF THE ROAD

8.

SECTION VIII HOME TOWN

9.

SECTION IX POLITICS

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10.

SECTION X SONGS BASED ON CARTOONS, BILL-BOARDS, AND AMERICAN HIEROGLYPHICS, AND MOTION-PICTURES

BABYLON, BABYLON, BABYLON THE GREAT

PREFACE TO “BOB TAYLOR'S BIRTHDAY”

A SONG FOR ELIZABETH

THE FLYING HOUSE, AND THE MAY QUEEN ETERNAL

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BILLBOARDS AND GALLEONS

1.

2.

3.

HOW DULCENIA DEL TOBOSO IS LIKE THE LEFT WING OF A BIRD

THE PEARL OF BILOXI

11.

SECTION XI A SONG BASED ON EGYPTIAN HIEROGLYPHICS:

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THE FLYING HOUSE, AND THE MAY QUEEN ETERNAL

Queen Venus, come now, be my heroine,
To form my pictures, and to scan my song,
And dominate that tall, enchanted house,
Invisible house, where I have lived so long.

Fast-flying house, that crosses sea and land.
House, always mine and empty but for me.

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Fly near me, so your shadow may be near
And fall across my doors, and comfort me.

That house, all lights and shadows and no walls,
Has, for its doors and windows, barriers proud,
Closed wings for doors, or open wings for doors,
And, for its windows, wind-harps, singing loud.

Even your wing-whirr is a comfort there,
Your wireless whisper heard, though far away,
Makes you the heroine in that tall house.
The romance stays, if such fine honors stay.

Here I will live on shadows, if I must,
Kissing one shadow's soft eyes to the end.
I will write out and draw new wind-harp rhymes,
Sons of your shadow's flesh and blood, dear friend.

(First contributed to Christopher Morley's Column in the New York Evening Post, “The Bowling Green,” then reproduced in his book, “The Bowling Green.”