University of Virginia Library

XI.

She saw a region of mighty woods
Stretching away for millions of roods;
The odorous cedar and pine-tree tall,
And the live oak, the grandest among them all,
And the solemn hemlock, massive and grim,
Claiming broad space for each mighty limb.
Then she heard the clang of the woodman's axe
Booming along through the lumber-tracks,
And she heard the crack of the yielding trunk,
As deeper and deeper the keen axe sunk,
And the swishing fall—the sonorous thrill—
And the following stillness, more than still.
Then, moving among the avenues dim,
She saw the lumbermen, giant of limb;
The frankness of heaven was in each face,
And their forms were grand with untutored grace;
Their laugh was hearty, their blow was strong,
And sweet as the wood-notes their working song,
As they hewed the limbs from the giant tree,
And stripped off his leafy mystery;
They breathed the air with elastic lungs,
They trolled their ditties with mirthful tongues,
And to see it would do a citizen good,
With what unction they relished their homely food;
For their hunger was keen as their trenchant axe,
And their jokes as broad as their brawny backs.
Then the Sewing Bird sang, again and again,
As he soared o'er the sonorous woods of Maine,
“See, see, see, see!
This is the place where MEN should be!”
And he floated once more through the azure air,
And the work-girl followed him, wondering where.