Kansas__1889.Hung darkly o'er its mighty wilderness, Then fled in storm, leaving a wondrous light Like morn of splendor flashed from rayless night, Under the lullaby of waving grass What powers slept, what life, what loveliness! O'er the wide grave divinest incense blew As flower goblets spilled their perfumed dew; And sacrament was in the mystic spell Of solitudes rife with the invisible. Silence sublime! poetic mood of earth Ere flower roots turn gems of human worth. But list, wild roses! hear the rushing wing That fans to life more glorious blossoming! The purple seas, presto! were green and gold As magic like the billowy map unrolled; The starry pendulum of destiny Swung wide, driven by the winds of Liberty. For Freedom's angel 'twas whose tempest sweep Awaked the prairies from their deathful sleep; And o'er their portals crossed the shining words, "Virtue, courage, culture," as sentry swords. And now, the fantasies of Freedom's thought On nature's page in forms and colors wrought, Mirror in the blue depths of matchless skies The shadow of an earthly paradise; And fix upon our country's flag a star, Like Venus shines in peace, like Mars in war. __A. A. B. Cavaness. |
Poems by Two Brothers
A. A. B. Cavaness & J. M. Cavaness
(Chetope: J. M. Cavaness and Son Co. 1896)
Pages 38-39
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