University of Virginia Library

JOHNNY APPLESEED SPEAKS OF GREAT CITIES IN THE FUTURE

Incense and splendor haunt me as I go.
Though my good works have been, alas, too few,
Though I do nothing, high heaven comes down to me,
And future ages pass in tall review.
I see the years to come as armies vast,
Stalking tremendous through the fields of time.
Man is unborn. To-morrow he is born,
Flame-like to hover over moil and grime,
Striving, aspiring till the shame is gone,
Sowing a million flowers where now we mourn—
Laying new, precious pavements with a song,
Founding new shrines the good streets to adorn.
I have seen lovers by those new-built walls
Clothed like the dawn in orange, gold and red.
Eyes flashing forth the glory-light of love
Under the wreath that crowned each royal head.
Life was made greater by their sweetheart prayers.
Passion was turned to civic strength that day—
Piling the marbles, making fairer domes
With zeal that else had burned bright youth away:
I have seen priestesses of life go by
Gliding in samite through the incense-sea—
Innocent children marching with them there,
Singing in flowered robes, “The earth is free”:
While on the fair, deep-carved unfinished towers
Sentinels watched in armor, night and day—
Guarding the brazier fires of hope and dream—
Wild was their peace, and dawn-bright their array!
And scattering dreams, and glory,
Prophets' boats sailed in from far away,
And angels' boats sailed in
From chaos-seas and many a stormy bay.