Most potential traveller! There you lie with not a stir, Peacefulest of paper squares, Quiet, waiting, free from airs! But a wriggle of my pen Sends you to the world of men. Forth you go, equipped to fly To the far Alaskan sky, To Samoa's golden strand, Or to China's mystic land. Mountains, valleys, rivers, seas, You will cross with equal ease. Fair or stormy, hot or cold, Still a steady way you hold. Garden, desert, far or near, On you fare with sturdy cheer. No refreshment by the way, Tempted not to turn or stay, Pausing not to hail or greet All the myriads you meet, On one purpose firmly bent, -- Him to find to whom you're sent; This your only meed and spur, Faithful little messenger! Now, Americans, though we Rather sniff at heraldry, Here's an emblem fit and fine, Worthy of a Lincoln's line, Meet for palace, cot, or camp, -- Just a two-cent postage stamp! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...NOCTURNE IN A MINOR KEY by CONRAD AIKEN I'VE NEVER SEEN SUCH A REAL HARD TIME BEFORE' by HAYDEN CARRUTH LETTER TO MAXINE SULLIVAN by HAYDEN CARRUTH IN THE JEWISH SYNAGOGUE AT NEWPORT by EMMA LAZARUS TO AN EARLY DAFFODIL; SONNET by AMY LOWELL THE QUARREL by KATHERINE MANSFIELD FOR THE NEW YEAR by EDWIN MARKHAM |