Unseal the city fountains, And let the waters flow In coolness from the mountains Unto the plains below. My brain is parched and erring, The pavement hot and dry, And not a breath is stirring Beneath the burning sky. The belles have all departed— There does not linger one! Of course the mart's deserted By every mother's son. Except the street musician, And men of lesser note, Whose only earthly mission Seems but to toil and vote! A woman—blessings on her!— Beneath my window see; She's singing—what an honour!— Oh! "Woodman, spare that tree!" Her "man" the air is killing— His organ's out of tune— They're gone with my last shilling, To Florence's saloon. New York is most compactly Of brick and mortar made— Thermometer exactly One hundred in the shade! A furnace would be safer Than this my letter-room, Where gleams the sun, a wafer About to seal my doom. The town looks like an ogre, The country like a bride; Wealth hies to Saratoga And Worth to Sunny-Side While fashion seeks the islands Encircled by the sea, Taste finds the Hudson Highlands More beautiful and free. The omnibuses rumble Along their cobbled way— The "twelve inside" more humble Than he who takes the pay. From morn to midnight stealing, His horses come and go— The only creatures feeling The "luxury of woe!" A stillness and a sadness Pervade the City Hall, And speculating madness Has left the street of Wall. The Union Square looks really Both desolate and dark, And that's the case, or nearly, From Battery to Park. Had I a yacht like Miller, That skimmer of the seas— A wheel rigged like a tiller, And a fresh gunwale breeze, A crew of friends well chosen, And all a-tauto, I Would sail for regions frozen— I'd rather freeze than fry. I'm weeping like the willow That droops in leaf and bough— Let Croton's sparkling billow Flow through the city now; And, as becomes her station, The muse will close her prayer; God save the Corporation! Long live the valiant Mayor! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...HOW IT STRIKES A CONTEMPORARY by ROBERT BROWNING THE DARK MAN by NORA (CHESSON) HOPPER ON AN ANNIVERSARY by JOHN MILLINGTON SYNGE THE REFORMER by JOHN GREENLEAF WHITTIER THE BLACK MOUSQUETAIRE; A LEGEND OF FRANCE by RICHARD HARRIS BARHAM THE DEAD CHILD by GEORGE BARLOW (1847-1913) |