Collected poems by Vachel Lindsay :: :: University of Virginia Library

Both Leaders:
You shall dance round again,
You shall dance round again,
Cymbals shall sound again,
Cymbals shall sound again,
Wildflowers be found

The Queen appears to gather wildflowers.

For ten thousand years,
Wildflowers be found
For ten thousand years.

Both Leaders:
And every sweetheart had four hundred swans.

He continues to command the congregation, the woman to dance. He goes forward to the footlights.

Congregation:
We were the swans.

169

Both Leaders:
You shall spread wings again,

The King walks backward.

You shall spread wings again,
Fly in soft rings again,

Here a special dance, by the Queen: swans flying in circles.

Fly in soft rings again,
Swim by cool springs
For ten thousand years,
Swim by cool springs
For ten thousand years.

Men's Leader:
King Solomon,

The refrain “King Solomon may be intoned by the mens' leader whenever it is needed to enable the women's leader to get to her starting point. They bow to each other—then give a pantomime indicating a great rose garden.

King Solomon.

Women's Leader:

The Queen of Sheba asked him like a lady,
Bowing most politely:
“What makes the roses bloom

Over the mossy tomb,
Driving away the gloom
Ten thousand years?”

Men's Leader:
King Solomon made answer to the lady,
Bowing most politely:

They bow and confer. The Queen reserved, but taking cognizance. The King wooing with ornate gestures of respect, and courtly animation.

“They bloom forever thinking of your beauty,
Your step so queenly and your eyes so lovely.
These keep the roses fair,

170

Young and without care,
Making so sweet the air,
Ten thousand years.”

Both Leaders:
King Solomon he had four hundred sons.

The two, with a manner almost a cake walk, go forward.

Congregation:
We were the sons.

On this line, King and Queen pause before the footlights.

Both Leaders:
Crowned by the throngs again,

Pantomime of crowning the audience. On this line they walk backward, playing great imaginary harps.

You shall make songs again,
Singing along
For ten thousand years.

Both Leaders:
He gave each son four hundred prancing ponies.

They go forward in a pony gallop, then stand pawing.

Congregation:
We were the ponies.

Both Leaders:
You shall not eat hay again,

They nod, and walk backward.

In forests play again,
Rampage and neigh

A pony dance by both, in circles.

For ten thousand years.

Men's Leader:
King Solomon he asked the Queen of Sheba,

171

Bowing most politely:

They bow to each other, standing so that each one commands half of the stage.

“What makes the oak-tree grow
Hardy in sun and snow,
Never by wind brought low
Ten thousand years?”

Women's Leader:
The Queen of Sheba answered like a lady,
Bowing most politely:

They bow to each other, again, with pantomime indicating a forest.

“It blooms forever thinking of your wisdom,
Your brave heart and the way you rule your kingdom.
These keep the oak secure,
Weaving its leafy lure,
Dreaming by fountains pure
Ten thousand years.”

Both Leaders:
The Queen of Sheba had four hundred sailors.

They go to the footlights with a sailors' lurch and hitch.

Congregation:
We were the sailors.

The King and Queen pause.

Both Leaders:
You shall bring spice and ore
Over the ocean's floor,

They walk backward with slow long-armed gestures indicating the entire horizon line.

Shipmates once more,
For ten thousand years.

Women's Leader:
The Queen of Sheba asked him like a lady,

172

Bowing most politely:

They bow to each other, the Queen indicating the depths of the sea.

“Why is the sea so deep,
What secret does it keep
While tides a-roaring leap
Ten thousand years?”

Men's Leader:
King Solomon made answer to the lady,
Bowing most politely:

They bow to each other, then confer; the Queen reserved, but taking cognizance, the King wooing with ornate gestures of respect and courtly admiration.

“My love for you is like the stormy ocean—
Too deep to understand,
Bending to your own command,
Bringing your ships to land
Ten thousand years.”
King Solomon,
King Solomon.

Both Leaders:
King Solomon he had four hundred chieftains.

They go to the footlights with the greatest possible strut.

Congregation:
We were the chieftains.

Both Leaders:
You shall be proud again,

They stand proudly with arms folded. They walk backward haughtily, laughing on the last lines. From here on the whole production to be much more solemn, elevated, religious.

Dazzle the crowd again,
Laughing aloud
For ten thousand years.

173

Both Leaders:
King Solomon he had four hundred shepherds.

The leaders go forward to the footlights carrying imaginary torches.

Congregation:
We were the shepherds.

The man and woman pause at the footlights.

Both Leaders:
You shall have torches bright,

They wander over the stage as though looking for lost lambs, with torches held high.

Watching the folds by night,
Guarding the lambs aright,
Ten thousand years.

Men's Leader:
King Solomon he asked the Queen of Sheba,
Bowing most politely:

The King kneels, and indicates the entire sky with one long slow gesture.

“Why are the stars so high,
There in the velvet sky,
Rolling in rivers by,
Ten thousand years?”

Women's Leader:
The Queen of Sheba answered like a lady,
Bowing most politely:

The Queen kneels opposite the King, and gives the same gesture as she answers.

“They're singing of your kingdom to the angels,
They guide your chariot with their lamps and candles,
Therefore they burn so far—
So you can drive your car

174

Up where the prophets are,
Ten thousand years.”

Men's Leader:
King Solomon,
King Solomon.

Both Leaders:
King Solomon he kept the Sabbath holy.
And spoke with tongues in prophet words so mighty

The two stand, commanding the audience.

We stamped and whirled and wept and shouted:

The man and woman stamp and whirl with great noise and solemnity.

Congregation
rises and joins in the song:
... “Glory.”
We were his people.

Both Leaders:

You shall be wild and gay,

On these two lines, man and woman stamp and whirl again, gravely, magnificently. On these two lines they kneel, commanding the audience. Now they rise and bow to each other and the audience, maintaining a certain intention of benediction.

Green trees shall deck your way,

Sunday be every day,
Ten thousand years.

King Solomon,
King Solomon.