 | Coffin's Poems with Ajax' Ordeals |  |
The Trip I Would Like to Take.
Man has a curious appetite,
He's all the time wishing to go;
And if he had the wings of a kite,
He'd travel this wide world o'er.
He's all the time wishing to go;
And if he had the wings of a kite,
He'd travel this wide world o'er.
Sometime I'd like to go away,
Far over the Rocky Mountains;
Where the rainbows dance on silvery rays,
Of California's fountain.
Far over the Rocky Mountains;
Where the rainbows dance on silvery rays,
Of California's fountain.
In the rocks below, in the trees above,
In the brooklet and the river
I could read and know that God is love,
And of all good things the giver.
In the brooklet and the river
I could read and know that God is love,
And of all good things the giver.
100
I would like to go to the Yellowstone,
And witness the giant geysers;
To see its grandure there alone,
Would surely make me wiser.
And witness the giant geysers;
To see its grandure there alone,
Would surely make me wiser.
For in the roar the hissing stream,
As it issues from the crater;
I could there learn more of the boundless theme,
Of a kind and wise Creator.
As it issues from the crater;
I could there learn more of the boundless theme,
Of a kind and wise Creator.
Then I would go to the great Black Hills,
Across the plains of Dakota;
And take a stroll to the rippling rills,
And lakes of Minnesota.
Across the plains of Dakota;
And take a stroll to the rippling rills,
And lakes of Minnesota.
I would sit on lake Itaska's shore
Where the Mississippi rises;
And Minnehaha's laughing roar
Would fill me with glad surprises.
Where the Mississippi rises;
And Minnehaha's laughing roar
Would fill me with glad surprises.
I'd go to the “Dreamy city,”
Well yes, and while I was there;
I'd make myself a committee,
To witness the ruins of the fair.
Well yes, and while I was there;
I'd make myself a committee,
To witness the ruins of the fair.
I would journey then to Southern climes,
'Mid Florida's blooming bowers;
There to see God's work sublime,
In the beautiful, fragrant flowers.
'Mid Florida's blooming bowers;
There to see God's work sublime,
In the beautiful, fragrant flowers.
101
From there I'd make a flying trip,
To the gateway city of the east;
And from its great exhibits,
And Negro arts I'd feast.
To the gateway city of the east;
And from its great exhibits,
And Negro arts I'd feast.
And then a little cruise I'd take,
Along the Atlantic Ocean;
To where the earth with a powerful quake
Put Charleston in wild commotion.
Along the Atlantic Ocean;
To where the earth with a powerful quake
Put Charleston in wild commotion.
I would still continue on my way,
Through the Shenandoah valley,
Where the “boys in blue and the boys in gray,”
Would waver again to rally.
Through the Shenandoah valley,
Where the “boys in blue and the boys in gray,”
Would waver again to rally.
Then I'd go to Niagara's Falls,
And there I would learn and wonder,
For God can teach in a voice that calls
From the cataract's deafening thunder.
And there I would learn and wonder,
For God can teach in a voice that calls
From the cataract's deafening thunder.
I'd wander over into Texas,
To visit a loving sister,
I'd talk of the days gone and past,
And tell her how I had missed her.
To visit a loving sister,
I'd talk of the days gone and past,
And tell her how I had missed her.
I would then cross into Mexico,
And visit those ancient mounds;
That were built hundreds of years ago,
Whose mystery man has not found.
And visit those ancient mounds;
That were built hundreds of years ago,
Whose mystery man has not found.
102
I'd go to Italy's sunny climes,
To the “city of seven hills,”
And from its structure of ancient times,
And grandure I'd be filled.
To the “city of seven hills,”
And from its structure of ancient times,
And grandure I'd be filled.
I'd go to the unspeakable Turk,
Among the Armenian strife;
And ask them how from conscience clear,
They still took human life.
Among the Armenian strife;
And ask them how from conscience clear,
They still took human life.
I'd go before the courts of France,
Where Waller was in jail;
I'd prick their ears with facts, and make
Their conscience go his bail.
Where Waller was in jail;
I'd prick their ears with facts, and make
Their conscience go his bail.
Then I would journey to the North,
To see that Shakespearian land;
Where Hamlet said from conscious wrath
“What a piece of work is man.”
To see that Shakespearian land;
Where Hamlet said from conscious wrath
“What a piece of work is man.”
I would then go to the Holy Land,
Where the Saviour was crucified,
Then I could better keep His commands,
Seeing the place where He died.
Where the Saviour was crucified,
Then I could better keep His commands,
Seeing the place where He died.
I'd traverse all the paths of Paul,
Among the various nations;
Then I'd go where man had his fall,
And view the land of creation.
Among the various nations;
Then I'd go where man had his fall,
And view the land of creation.
103
I'd then go into Egypt land,
Where Joseph was sent by God,
I'd stand where Moses gave command,
I'd tread where Israel trod.
Where Joseph was sent by God,
I'd stand where Moses gave command,
I'd tread where Israel trod.
I'd go into Africa's Jungles.
Where the Bible has never been,
And attempt God's word to mumble,
In the hearts of heathen men.
Where the Bible has never been,
And attempt God's word to mumble,
In the hearts of heathen men.
I'd visit then the Isles of the sea,
And view those novel scenes,
I'd tell the people what to be,
And not what they should seem.
And view those novel scenes,
I'd tell the people what to be,
And not what they should seem.
If I was able Christian friends,
To travel this journey through,
It would not be for sights or scenes,
But teaching men to be true.
To travel this journey through,
It would not be for sights or scenes,
But teaching men to be true.
And if I could on this journey roam,
My trip would not be ended;
I'd like to view the eternal home,
And there be recommended.
My trip would not be ended;
I'd like to view the eternal home,
And there be recommended.
| Coffin's Poems with Ajax' Ordeals | |