Skip directly to:Main content Main navigation

University of Virginia Library

Collected poems by Vachel Lindsay

revised and illustrated edition

Lindsay, Vachel (1879-1931)

collapse section

INVOCATION FOR “THE MAP OF THE UNIVERSE”

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

collapse section

JOHNNY APPLESEED'S WIFE OF THE MIND

1.

2.

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

collapse section

COLLECTED POEMS

collapse section

1.

SECTION I NIGHTINGALES

THE CHINESE NIGHTINGALE

collapse section

SHANTUNG, OR THE EMPIRE OF CHINA IS CRUMBLING DOWN

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

I KNOW ALL THIS WHEN GIPSY FIDDLES CRY

A RHYME FOR ALL ZIONISTS

A NET TO SNARE THE MOONLIGHT

ABRAHAM LINCOLN WALKS AT MIDNIGHT

MAE MARSH, MOTION PICTURE ACTRESS

collapse section

EPITAPHS FOR TWO PLAYERS

1.

2.

II. Epitaph for John Bunny, Motion-Picture Comedian

SPRINGFIELD MAGICAL

HOW A LITTLE GIRL SANG

HOW A LITTLE GIRL DANCED

FOR ALL WHO EVER SENT LACE VALENTINES

THE MOON'S THE NORTH WIND'S COOKY

THE LITTLE TURTLE

YET GENTLE WILL THE GRIFFIN BE

THE SUN SAYS HIS PRAYERS

THE SHIELD OF FAITH

THE LEADEN-EYED

THE TRAVELLER-HEART

collapse section

A GOSPEL OF BEAUTY

1.

I. The Proud Farmer

2.

II. The Illinois Village

3.

III. On the Building of Springfield

THE FLUTE OF THE LONELY

THE BRONCHO THAT WOULD NOT BE BROKEN

THE GHOST OF THE BUFFALOES

collapse section

IN PRAISE OF JOHNNY APPLESEED

1.

I. Over the Appalachian Barricade

2.

II. The Indians Worship Him, but He Hurries On

3.

III. Johnny Appleseed's Old Age

THE STATUE OF OLD ANDREW JACKSON

JOHN L. SULLIVAN, THE STRONG BOY OF BOSTON

THE EAGLE THAT IS FORGOTTEN

collapse section

BRYAN, BRYAN, BRYAN, BRYAN

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

collapse section

OUR MOTHER POCAHONTAS

1.

2.

3.

collapse section

2.

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

THE LAST SONG OF LUCIFER

collapse section

THE KALLYOPE YELL

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

collapse section

GENERAL WILLIAM BOOTH ENTERS INTO HEAVEN

1.

2.

THE KING OF YELLOW BUTTERFLIES

THE POTATOES' DANCE

ALADDIN AND THE JINN

THE MASTER OF THE DANCE

A DIRGE FOR A RIGHTEOUS KITTEN

THE LAME BOY AND THE FAIRY

THE BLACKSMITH'S SERENADE

THE FAIRY BRIDAL HYMN

A DOLL'S “ARABIAN NIGHTS”

THE DRUNKARD'S FUNERAL

collapse section

THE SEA SERPENT CHANTEY

1.

2.

3.

4.

collapse section

THE SANTA-FÉ TRAIL

1.

I. In Which a Racing Auto Comes from the East

2.

II. In Which Many Autos Pass Westward

collapse section

THE BOOKER WASHINGTON TRILOGY

1.

I. Simon Legree—A Negro Sermon

2.

3.

III. King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba

HOW SAMSON BORE AWAY THE GATES OF GAZA

WHEN PETER JACKSON PREACHED IN THE OLD CHURCH

collapse section

1.

I. Their Basic Savagery

2.

II. Their Irrepressible High Spirits

3.

III. The Hope of Their Religion

collapse section

3.

SECTION III LITANY OF THE HEROES

LITANY OF THE HEROES

collapse section

4.

SECTION IV VERSES OF AN ESPECIALLY INSCRIPTIONAL CHARACTER

THE QUEEN OF BUBBLES

collapse section

SWEETHEARTS OF THE YEAR

Sweetheart Spring

Sweetheart Summer

Sweetheart Autumn

Sweetheart Winter

SWEET BRIARS OF THE STAIRWAYS

AN APOLOGY FOR THE BOTTLE VOLCANIC

THE VILLAGE IMPROVEMENT PARADE

THE FAIRY FROM THE APPLE-SEED

DANCING FOR A PRIZE

THE SOUL OF THE CITY RECEIVES THE GIFT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

THE ANGEL AND THE CLOWN

THE SONG OF THE STURDY SNAILS

THE WEDDING OF THE ROSE AND THE LOTUS

collapse section

THE TREE OF LAUGHING BELLS, OR THE WINGS OF THE MORNING

How the Wings Were Made

The Indian Girl Who Made Them

The Indian Girl Tells the Hero Where to Go to Get the Laughing Bell

The Journey Starts Swiftly

He Nears the Goal

He Climbs the Hill Where the Tree Grows

He Receives the Bells

He Starts on the Return Journey

He Gives What He Won to the Indian Girl

THE SPIDER AND THE GHOST OF THE FLY

CRICKETS ON A STRIKE

THE VISIT TO MAB

AN INDIAN SUMMER DAY ON THE PRAIRIE

QUEEN MAB IN THE VILLAGE

THE MYSTERIOUS CAT

THE HUMBLE BUMBLE BEE.

collapse section

5.

SECTION V MOON-POEMS

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

collapse section

6.

SECTION VI INCENSE AND PRAISE, AND WHIM, AND GLORY

THE STORM-FLOWER

HERE'S TO THE SPIRIT OF FIRE

BEING THE DEDICATION OF A MORNING

THE KNIGHT IN DISGUISE

THE WIZARD IN THE STREET

collapse section

THREE POEMS ABOUT MARK TWAIN

1.

2.

II. When the Mississippi Flowed in Indiana

3.

III. Mark Twain and Joan of Arc

AN EXPLANATION OF THE GRASSHOPPER

THE DANGEROUS LITTLE BOY FAIRIES

THE MOUSE THAT GNAWED THE OAK-TREE DOWN

THE SONG OF THE GARDEN-TOAD

FACTORY WINDOWS ARE ALWAYS BROKEN

IN PRAISE OF SONGS THAT DIE

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

THE PERFECT MARRIAGE

DARLING DAUGHTER OF BABYLON

LIFE TRANSCENDENT

WITH A ROSE, TO BRUNHILDE

collapse section

TWO EASTER STANZAS

1.

I. The Hope of the Resurrection

2.

II. We Meet at the Judgment and I Fear It Not

ALONE IN THE WIND, ON THE PRAIRIE

collapse section

THIS SECTION IS A CHRISTMAS TREE

[This section is a Christmas tree]

1.

I. The Doll Upon the Topmost Bough

2.

II. On Suddenly Receiving a Curl Long Refused

3.

III. On Receiving One of Gloriana's Letters

4.

IV. In Praise of Gloriana's Remarkable Golden Hair

TO A GOLDEN-HAIRED GIRL IN A LOUISIANA TOWN

THE CELESTIAL CIRCUS

HARPS IN HEAVEN

A KIND OF SCORN

MY LADY IS COMPARED TO A YOUNG TREE

IN MEMORY OF A CHILD

THE DRUNKARDS IN THE STREET

collapse section

7.

SECTION VII RUNES OF THE ROAD

I WANT TO GO WANDERING

BY THE SPRING AT SUNSET

ON THE ROAD TO NOWHERE

THE BEGGAR'S VALENTINE

THE WOULD-BE MERMAN

HONOR AMONG SCAMPS

WHY I VOTED THE SOCIALIST TICKET

GALAHAD, KNIGHT WHO PERISHED

IN THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION CHURCH

STAR OF MY HEART

LOOK YOU, I'LL GO PRAY

A PRAYER TO ALL THE DEAD AMONG MINE OWN PEOPLE

THE CITY THAT WILL NOT REPENT

THE VOICE OF ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI

collapse section

THE GOLDEN WHALES OF CALIFORNIA

1.

I. A Short Walk along the Coast

2.

II. The Chanting of the Whales

3.

III. St. Francis of San Francisco

4.

IV. The Voice of the Earthquake

I WENT DOWN INTO THE DESERT

collapse section

POEMS SPEAKING OF BUDDHA, PRINCE SIDDARTHA

1.

I. With a Bouquet of Twelve Roses

collapse section

2.

II. The Firemen's Ball

1.

2.

3.

3.

THE COMET OF PROPHECY

THE TRAMP'S REFUSAL

THE FLOWER OF MENDING

collapse section

8.

SECTION VIII HOME TOWN

AFTER READING THE SAD STORY OF THE FALL OF BABYLON

TO REFORMERS IN DESPAIR

KING ARTHURS'S MEN HAVE COME AGAIN

DRINK FOR SALE.

[SAID THIRST TO HUNGER ONE DAY]

ON READING OMAR KHAYYAM

FOREIGN MISSIONS IN BATTLE ARRAY

A RHYME ABOUT AN ELECTRICAL ADVERTISING SIGN

THE NORTH STAR WHISPERS TO THE BLACKSMITH'S SON

THE PRAIRIE BATTLEMENTS

THE DREAM OF ALL THE SPRINGFIELD WRITERS

THE HEARTH ETERNAL

THE TOWN OF AMERICAN VISIONS

THE SPRINGFIELD OF THE FAR FUTURE

OUR GUARDIAN ANGELS AND THEIR CHILDREN

THE EMPTY BOATS

HOW I WALKED ALONE IN THE JUNGLES OF HEAVEN

collapse section

ALEXANDER CAMPBELL

1.

I. My Fathers Came from Kentucky

2.

II. Written in a Year When Many of My People Died

collapse section

3.

III. A Rhymed Address to All Renegade Campbellites, Exhorting Them to Return

1.

2.

3.

4.

collapse section

THE TALE OF THE TIGER TREE

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

THE SOUL OF A SPIDER

THE SOUL OF A BUTTERFLY

SEW THE FLAGS TOGETHER

I HEARD IMMANUEL SINGING

collapse section

9.

SECTION IX POLITICS

THE JINGO AND THE MINSTREL

THE TIGER ON PARADE

collapse section

TO JANE ADDAMS AT THE HAGUE

1.

I. Speak Now for Peace

2.

II. Tolstoi Is Plowing Yet

A CURSE FOR KINGS

ABOVE THE BATTLE'S FRONT

THE UNPARDONABLE SIN

THE MERCIFUL HAND

IN WHICH ROOSEVELT IS COMPARED TO SAUL

HAIL TO THE SONS OF ROOSEVELT

IN MEMORY OF MY FRIEND, JOYCE KILMER, POET AND SOLDIER

WHERE IS THE REAL NON-RESISTANT?

THE WIZARD WIND

collapse section

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

collapse section

BILLBOARDS AND GALLEONS

1.

2.

3.

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

THE PEARL OF BILOXI

collapse section

1.

I Being a Seven-Year-Old Boy's Elaborate Memory of the Day of His Birth

2.

II Being my notion, as a Ferocious Small-Boy, of my Ancestral Protector.

3.

III One Brief Hour of Grown-up Glory on the Gulf of Mexico.

collapse section

11.

SECTION XI A SONG BASED ON EGYPTIAN HIEROGLYPHICS:

collapse section

THE TRIAL OF THE DEAD CLEOPATRA IN HER BEAUTIFUL AND WONDERFUL TOMB

collapse section

1.

I. She Becomes a Soul, Flowering Toward Egyptian Resurrection, B.C. 29

B.C. 2. Nine years later.

Anno Domini 10. Nine years later.

collapse section

2.

II. She Becomes a Goddess.

Anno Domini 28. Nine years later.

3.

III. She is Lifted with the Old Gods into the Western Sky

collapse section

Collapse All | Expand All expand section

I. Their Basic Savagery

Fat black bucks in a wine-barrel room,
Barrel-house kings, with feet unstable,
Sagged and reeled and pounded on the table,

A deep rolling bass.

Pounded on the table,
Beat an empty barrel with the handle of a broom,

179

Hard as they were able,
Boom, boom, Boom,
With a silk umbrella and the handle of a broom,
Boomlay, boomlay, boomlay, Boom.
Then I had religion, Then I had a vision.
I could not turn from their revel in derision.
Then I SAW THE Congo, CREEPING THROUGH THE BLACK,

More deliberate. Solemnly chanted.

Cutting THROUGH THE FOREST WITH A GOLDEN TRACK.
Then along that riverbank
A thousand miles
Tattooed cannibals danced in files;
Then I heard the boom of the blood-lust song
And a thigh-bone beating on a tin-pan gong.

A rapidly piling climax of speed and racket.

And “Blood” screamed the whistles and the fifes of the warriors,
“Blood” screamed the skull-faced, lean witch-doctors,
“Whirl ye the deadly voo-doo rattle,
Harry the uplands,
Steal all the cattle,
Rattle-rattle, rattle-rattle,
Bing.
Boomlay, boomlay, boomlay, Boom,”
A roaring, epic, rag-time tune

With a philosophic pause.

From the mouth of the Congo
To the Mountains of the Moon.
Death is an Elephant,
Torch-eyed and horrible,

Shrilly and with a heavily accented metre.

Foam-flanked and terrible.
Boom, steal the pygmies,
Boom, kill the Arabs,

180

Boom, kill the white men,
Hoo, Hoo, Hoo.
Listen to the yell of Leopold's ghost

Like the wind in the chimney.

Burning in Hell for his hand-maimed host.
Hear how the demons chuckle and yell
Cutting his hands off, down in Hell.
Listen to the creepy proclamation,
Blown through the lairs of the forest-nation,
Blown past the white-ants' hill of clay,
Blown past the marsh where the butterflies play:—
“Be careful what you do,
Or Mumbo-Jumbo, God of the Congo,

All the “o” sounds very golden. Heavy accents very heavy. Light accents very light. Last line whispered.

And all of the other
Gods of the Congo,
Mumbo-Jumbo will hoo-doo you,
Mumbo-Jumbo will hoo-doo you,
Mumbo-Jumbo will hoo-doo you.”