 | Poems of affection by Ella Wheeler Wilcox |  |
106
A MIRAGE
It was the crowded hour of the great city,And through its long streets rushed
Trams, motor trucks, and automobiles,
And there was honk of horn, and clang of bell.
Then suddenly the din seemed hushed.
The people paused a moment in their hurry.
A curious spell
Fell over that loud scene, as down the street
A pair of pretty ponies drew a surrey;
And in it sat a lady with a bonnet—
A quaint affair with just one posy on it,
And narrow strings tied underneath her chin.
The man who drove the ponies seemed to be
A picture from old Godey's Magazine,
Materialised. The city's din
Died down, and voices of a village choir
Trailed on the air! A pastoral scene
107
Replaced tall city structures. Life was quiet,
And there was time for reverie and song.
The surrey passed from sight. A trolley gong
Clanged all the street again to noise and riot.
Tall city structures seemed to loom still higher
And shut the sunlight out. Intolerant,
Unbeautiful and loud-voiced vehicles
Proceeded on their way to rave and rant.
There was no peace in all the city's mart
Save but for him who found it in his heart.
| Poems of affection by Ella Wheeler Wilcox | |