University of Virginia Library

Search this document 
Collected poems by Vachel Lindsay

revised and illustrated edition
Lindsay, Vachel (1879-1931)

collapse section 
[section]
  
[dedication]
  
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. 
I
 2. 
II
  
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
  
PARVENU
collapse section 
COLLECTED POEMS
collapse section1. 
SECTION I NIGHTINGALES
  
THE CHINESE NIGHTINGALE
collapse section 
SHANTUNG, OR THE EMPIRE OF CHINA IS CRUMBLING DOWN
 1. 
I
 2. 
II
 3. 
III
 4. 
IV
 5. 
V
  
THE SPICE-TREE
  
I KNOW ALL THIS WHEN GIPSY FIDDLES CRY
  
A RHYME FOR ALL ZIONISTS
  
INCENSE
  
A NET TO SNARE THE MOONLIGHT
  
ABRAHAM LINCOLN WALKS AT MIDNIGHT
  
NIAGARA
  
MAE MARSH, MOTION PICTURE ACTRESS
collapse section 
EPITAPHS FOR TWO PLAYERS
 1. 
I. Edwin Booth
 2. 
II. Epitaph for John Bunny, Motion-Picture Comedian
  
HAMLET
  
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
  
LOVE AND LAW
  
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. 
I
 2. 
II
 3. 
III
 4. 
IV
 5. 
V
 6. 
VI
collapse section 
OUR MOTHER POCAHONTAS
 1. 
I
 2. 
II
 3. 
III
collapse section2. 
SECTION II ORATIONS, COLLEGE WAR-CRIES, AND OLYMPIC GAMES
  
THE LAST SONG OF LUCIFER
collapse section 
THE KALLYOPE YELL
 1. 
I
 2. 
II
 3. 
III
 4. 
IV
 5. 
V
collapse section 
GENERAL WILLIAM BOOTH ENTERS INTO HEAVEN
 1. 
I
 2. 
II
  
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”
  
TWO OLD CROWS
  
THE DRUNKARD'S FUNERAL
collapse section 
THE SEA SERPENT CHANTEY
 1. 
I
 2. 
II
 3. 
III
 4. 
IV
  
KANSAS
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
  
DANIEL
collapse section 
THE BOOKER WASHINGTON TRILOGY
 1. 
I. Simon Legree—A Negro Sermon
 2. 
II. John Brown
 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 
THE CONGO
 1. 
I. Their Basic Savagery
 2. 
II. Their Irrepressible High Spirits
 3. 
III. The Hope of Their Religion
collapse section3. 
SECTION III LITANY OF THE HEROES
  
LITANY OF THE HEROES
collapse section4. 
SECTION IV VERSES OF AN ESPECIALLY INSCRIPTIONAL CHARACTER
  
THE QUEEN OF BUBBLES
  
GHOSTS IN LOVE
  
COLD SUNBEAMS
collapse section 
SWEETHEARTS OF THE YEAR
  
Sweetheart Spring
  
Sweetheart Summer
  
Sweetheart Autumn
  
Sweetheart Winter
  
SWEET BRIARS OF THE STAIRWAYS
  
THE SORCERESS!
  
THE AMARANTH
  
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
  
TO LADY JANE
  
INDIAN SUMMER.
  
AN INDIAN SUMMER DAY ON THE PRAIRIE
  
QUEEN MAB IN THE VILLAGE
  
THE MYSTERIOUS CAT
  
THE HUMBLE BUMBLE BEE.
collapse section5. 
SECTION V MOON-POEMS
  
TO GLORIANA
  
EUCLID
  
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 section6. 
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. 
I. The Raft
 2. 
II. When the Mississippi Flowed in Indiana
 3. 
III. Mark Twain and Joan of Arc
  
THE LION
  
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
  
EDEN IN WINTER
  
GENESIS
  
THE PERFECT MARRIAGE
  
DARLING DAUGHTER OF BABYLON
  
LIFE TRANSCENDENT
  
WITH A ROSE, TO BRUNHILDE
  
SUNSHINE
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
  
KALAMAZOO
  
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 section7. 
SECTION VII RUNES OF THE ROAD
  
A Song in July
  
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
  
THE TRAP
  
THE GAMBLERS
  
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
  
AT MASS
  
THE DANDELION
  
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 section2. 
II. The Firemen's Ball
 1. 
Section One
 2. 
Section Two
 3. 
Section Three
 3. 
III. To Buddha
  
THE COMET OF PROPHECY
  
THE TRAMP'S REFUSAL
  
THE FLOWER OF MENDING
collapse section8. 
SECTION VIII HOME TOWN
  
AFTER READING THE SAD STORY OF THE FALL OF BABYLON
  
TO REFORMERS IN DESPAIR
  
THE CORNFIELDS
  
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
  
AN ARGUMENT
  
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 section3. 
III. A Rhymed Address to All Renegade Campbellites, Exhorting Them to Return
 1. 
I
 2. 
II
 3. 
III
 4. 
IV
collapse section 
THE TALE OF THE TIGER TREE
 1. 
I
 2. 
II
 3. 
III
 4. 
IV
 5. 
V
  
THE SOUL OF A SPIDER
  
THE SOUL OF A BUTTERFLY
  
HEART OF GOD
  
SEW THE FLAGS TOGETHER
  
I HEARD IMMANUEL SINGING
collapse section9. 
SECTION IX POLITICS
  
THE JINGO AND THE MINSTREL
  
YANKEE DOODLE
  
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
  
WHO KNOWS?
  
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 section10. 
SECTION X SONGS BASED ON CARTOONS, BILL-BOARDS, AND AMERICAN HIEROGLYPHICS, AND MOTION-PICTURES
  
ROOSEVELT
  
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. 
I
 2. 
II
 3. 
III
  
HOW DULCENIA DEL TOBOSO IS LIKE THE LEFT WING OF A BIRD
  
THE PEARL OF BILOXI
collapse section 
DOCTOR MOHAWK
 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 section11. 
SECTION XI A SONG BASED ON EGYPTIAN HIEROGLYPHICS:
collapse section 
THE TRIAL OF THE DEAD CLEOPATRA IN HER BEAUTIFUL AND WONDERFUL TOMB
  
[prologue]
collapse section1. 
I. She Becomes a Soul, Flowering Toward Egyptian Resurrection, B.C. 29
  
[subsection]
  
[subsection]
  
[subsection]
  
[subsection]
  
[subsection]
  
[subsection]
  
[subsection]
  
B.C. 2. Nine years later.
  
[subsection]
  
Anno Domini 1.
  
[subsection]
  
[subsection]
  
Anno Domini 10. Nine years later.
collapse section2. 
II. She Becomes a Goddess.
  
[subsection]
  
[subsection]
  
Anno Domini 28. Nine years later.
  
[subsection]
  
[subsection]
 3. 
III. She is Lifted with the Old Gods into the Western Sky

collapse section Collapse All | Expand All expand section
previous section Collected poems by Vachel Lindsay
next section

AN ARGUMENT

I. The Voice of the Man Impatient with Visions and Utopias

We find your soft Utopias as white
As new-cut bread, and dull as life in cells,
O scribes who dare forget how wild we are,
How human breasts adore alarum bells.
You house us in a hive of prigs and saints
Communal, frugal, clean and chaste by law.
I'd rather brood in bloody Elsinore
Or be Lear's fool, straw-crowned amid the straw.
Promise us all our share in Agincourt
341

Say that our clerks shall venture scorns and death,
That future ant-hills will not be too good
For Henry Fifth, or Hotspur, or Macbeth.
Promise that through tomorrow's spirit-war
Man's deathless soul will hack and hew its way,
Each flaunting Cæsar climbing to his fate
Scorning the utmost steps of yesterday.
Never a shallow jester any more!
Let not Jack Falstaff spill the ale in vain.
Let Touchstone set the fashions for the wise
And Ariel wreak his fancies through the rain.

II. The Rhymer's Reply: Incense and Splendor

Incense and Splendor haunt me as I go.
Though my good works have been, alas, too few,
Though I do naught, 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. Tomorrow he is born,
Flame-like to hover o'er the 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.
342

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!
previous section Collected poems by Vachel Lindsay
next section