At　last　when　I　came　to　lie　in　bed
  Weak　and　in　pain；　with　the　dreams　about　me；
  The　soul　of　the　river　had　entered　my　soul；
  And　the　gathered　power　of　my　soul　was　moving
  So　swiftly　it　seemed　to　be　at　rest
  Under　cities　of　cloud　and　under
  Spheres　of　silver　and　changing　worlds
  Until　I　saw　a　flash　of　trumpets
  Above　the　battlements　over　Time。
  Elijah　Browning
  I　WAS　among　multitudes　of　children
  Dancing　at　the　foot　of　a　mountain。
  A　breeze　blew　out　of　the　east　and　swept　them　as　leaves；
  Driving　some　up　the　slopes。　。　。　。
  All　was　changed。
  Here　were　flying　lights；　and　mystic　moons；　and　dream…music。
  A　cloud　fell　upon　us。
  When　it　lifted　all　was　changed。
  I　was　now　amid　multitudes　who　were　wrangling。
  Then　a　figure　in　shimmering　gold；　and　one　with　a　trumpet；
  And　one　with　a　sceptre　stood　before　me。
  They　mocked　me　and　danced　a　rigadoon　and　vanished。　。　。　。
  All　was　changed　again。
  Out　of　a　bower　of　poppies
  A　woman　bared　her　breasts　and　lifted　her　open　mouth　to　mine。
  I　kissed　her。
  The　taste　of　her　lips　was　like　salt。
  She　left　blood　on　my　lips。
  I　fell　exhausted。
  I　arose　and　ascended　higher；　but　a　mist　as　from　an　iceberg
  Clouded　my　steps。
  I　was　cold　and　in　pain。
  Then　the　sun　streamed　on　me　again；
  And　I　saw　the　mists　below　me　hiding　all　below　them。
  And　I；　bent　over　my　staff；　knew　myself
  Silhouetted　against　the　snow。
  And　above　me
  Was　the　soundless　air；　pierced　by　a　cone　of　ice；
  Over　which　hung　a　solitary　star！
  A　shudder　of　ecstasy；　a　shudder　of　fear
  Ran　through　me。
  But　I　could　not　return　to　the　slopes
  Nay；　I　wished　not　to　return。
  For　the　spent　waves　of　the　symphony　of　freedom
  Lapped　the　ethereal　cliffs　about　me。
  Therefore　I　climbed　to　the　pinnacle。
  I　flung　away　my　staff。
  I　touched　that　star
  With　my　outstretched　hand。
  I　vanished　utterly。
  For　the　mountain　delivers　to
  Infinite　Truth
  Whosoever　touches　the　star。
  Webster　Ford
  Do　you　remember；　O　Delphic　Apollo；
  The　sunset　hour　by　the　river；　when　Mickey　M'Grew
  Cried；　〃There's　a　ghost；〃　and　I；　〃It's　Delphic　Apollo；〃。
  And　the　son　of　the　banker　derided　us；　saying；　〃It's　light
  By　the　flags　at　the　water's　edge；　you　half…witted　fools。〃
  And　from　thence；　as　the　wearisome　years　rolled　on；　long　after
  Poor　Mickey　fell　down　in　the　water　tower　to　his　death
  Down；　down；　through　bellowing　darkness；　I　carried
  The　vision　which　perished　with　him　like　a　rocket　which　falls
  And　quenches　its　light　in　earth；　and　hid　it　for　fear
  Of　the　son　of　the　banker；　calling　on　Plutus　to　save　me？
  Avenged　were　you　for　the　shame　of　a　fearful　heart
  Who　left　me　alone　till　I　saw　you　again　in　an　hour
  When　I　seemed　to　be　turned　to　a　tree　with　trunk　and　branches
  Growing　indurate；　turning　to　stone；　yet　burgeoning
  In　laurel　leaves；　in　hosts　of　lambent　laurel；
  Quivering；　fluttering；　shrinking；　fighting　the　numbness
  Creeping　into　their　veins　from　the　dying　trunk　and　branches！
  OTis　vain；　O　youth；　to　fly　the　call　of　Apollo。
  Fling　yourselves　in　the　fire；　die　with　a　song　of　spring；
  If　die　you　must　in　the　spring。　For　none　shall　look
  On　the　face　of　Apollo　and　live；　and　choose　you　must
  OTwixt　death　in　the　flame　and　death　after　years　of　sorrow；
  Rooted　fast　in　the　earth；　feeling　the　grisly　hand；
  Not　so　much　in　the　trunk　as　in　the　terrible　numbness
  Creeping　up　to　the　laurel　leaves　that　never　cease
  To　flourish　until　you　fall。　O　leaves　of　me
  Too　sere　for　coronal　wreaths；　and　fit　alone
  For　urns　of　memory；　treasured；　perhaps；　as　themes
  For　hearts　heroic；　fearless　singers　and　livers
  Delphic　Apollo。
  The　Spooniad
  OF　John　Cabanis；　wrath　and　of　the　strife
  Of　hostile　parties；　and　his　dire　defeat
  Who　led　the　common　people　in　the　cause
  Of　freedom　for　Spoon　River；　and　the　fall
  Of　Rhodes；　bank　that　brought　unnumbered　woes
  And　loss　to　many；　with　engendered　hate
  That　flamed　into　the　torch　in　Anarch　hands
  To　burn　the　courthouse；　on　whose　blackened　wreck
  A　fairer　temple　rose　and　Progress　stood
  Sing；　muse；　that　lit　the　Chian's　face　with　smiles
  Who　saw　the　ant…like　Greeks　and　Trojans　crawl
  About　Scamander；　over　walls；　pursued
  Or　else　pursuing；　and　the　funeral　pyres
  And　sacred　hecatombs；　and　first　because
  Of　Helen　who　with　Paris　fled　to　Troy
  As　soul…mate；　and　the　wrath　of　Peleus；　son；
  Decreed　to　lose　Chryseis；　lovely　spoil
  Of　war；　and　dearest　concubine。
  Say　first；
  Thou　son　of　night；　called　Momus；　from　whose　eyes
  No　secret　hides；　and　Thalia；　smiling　one；
  What　bred　Otwixt　Thomas　Rhodes　and　John　Cabanis
  The　deadly　strife？　His　daughter　Flossie；　she；
  Returning　from　her　wandering　with　a　troop
  Of　strolling　players；　walked　the　village　streets；
  Her　bracelets　tinkling　and　with　sparkling　rings
  And　words　of　serpent　wisdom　and　a　smile
  Of　cunning　in　her　eyes。　Then　Thomas　Rhodes；
  Who　ruled　the　church　and　ruled　the　bank　as　well；
  Made　known　his　disapproval　of　the　maid；
  And　all　Spoon　River　whispered　and　the　eyes
  Of　all　the　church　frowned　on　her；　till　she　knew
  They　feared　her　and　condemned。
  But　them　to　flout
  She　gave　a　dance　to　viols　and　to　flutes；
  Brought　from　Peoria；　and　many　youths；
  But　lately　made　regenerate　through　the　prayers
  Of　zealous　preachers　and　of　earnest　souls；
  Danced　merrily；　and　sought　her　in　the　dance；
  Who　wore　a　dress　so　low　of　neck　that　eyes
  Down　straying　might　survey　the　snowy　swale
  OTill　it　was　lost　in　whiteness。
  With　the　dance
  The　village　changed　to　merriment　from　gloom。
  The　milliner；　Mrs。　Williams；　could　not　fill
  Her　orders　for　new　hats；　and　every　seamstress
  Plied　busy　needles　making　gowns；　old　trunks
  And　chests　were　opened　for　their　store　of　laces
  And　rings　and　trinkets　were　brought　out　of　hiding
  And　all　the　youths　fastidious　grew　of　dress；
  Notes　passed；　and　many　a　fair　one's　door　at　eve
  Knew　a　bouquet；　and　strolling　lovers　thronged
  About　the　hills　that　overlooked　the　river。
  Then；　since　the　mercy　seats　more　empty　showed；
  One　of　God's　chosen　lifted　up　his　voice：
  〃The　woman　of　Babylon　is　among　us；　rise
  Ye　sons　of　light　and　drive　the　wanton　forth！〃
  So　John　Cabanis　left　the　church　and　left
  The　hosts　of　law　and　order　with　his　eyes
  By　anger　cleared；　and　him　the　liberal　cause
  Acclaimed　as　nominee　to　the　mayoralty
  To　vanquish　A。　D。　Blood。
  But　as　the　war
  Waged　bitterly　for　votes　and　rumors　flew
  About　the　bank；　and　of　the　heavy　loans
  Which　Rhodes；　son　had　made　to　prop　his　loss
  In　wheat；　and　many　drew　their　coin　and　left
  The　bank　of　Rhodes　more　hollow；　with　the　talk
  Among　the　liberals　of　another　bank
  Soon　to　be　chartered；　lo；　the　bubble　burst
  OMid　cries　and　curses；　but　the　liberals　laughed
  And　in　the　hall　of　Nicholas　Bindle　held
  Wise　converse　and　inspiriting　debate。
  High　on　a　stage　that　overlooked　the　chairs
  Where　dozens　sat；　and　where　a　popeyed　daub
  Of　Shakespeare；　very　like　the　hired　man
  Of　Christian　Dallmann；　brow　and　pointed　beard；
  Upon　a　drab　proscenium　outward　stared；
  Sat　Harmon　Whitney；　to　that　eminence；
  By　merit　raised　in　ribaldry　and　guile；
  And　to　the　assembled　rebels　thus　he　spake：
  〃Whether　to　lie　supine　and　let　a　clique
  Cold…blooded；　scheming；　hungry；　singing　psalms；
  Devour　our　substance；　wreck　our　banks　and　drain
  Our　little　hoards　for　hazards　on　the　price
  Of　wheat　or　pork；　or　yet　to　cower　beneath
  The　shadow　of　a　spire　upreared　to　curb
  A　breed　of　lackeys　and　to　serve　the　bank
  Coadjutor　in　greed；　that　is　the　question。
  Shall　we　have　music　and　the　jocund　dance；
  Or　tolling　bells？　Or　shall　young　romance　roam
  These　hills　about　the　river；　flowering　now
  To　April's　tears；　or　shall　they　sit　at　home；
  Or　play　croquet　where　Thomas　Rhodes　may　see；
  I　ask　you？　If　the　blood　of　youth　runs　o'er
  And　riots　'gainst　this　regimen　of　gloom；
  Shall　we　submit　to　have　these　youths　and　maids
  Branded　as　libertines　and　wantons？〃
  Ere
  His　words　were　done　a　woman's　voice　called　〃No！〃
  Then　rose　a　sound　of　moving　chairs；　as　when
  The　numerous　swine　o'er…run　the　replenished　troughs；
  And　every　head　was　turned；　as　when　a　flock
  Of　geese　back…turning　to　the　hunter's　tread
  Rise　up　with　flapping　wings；　then　rang　the　hall
  With　riotous　laughter；　for　with　battered　hat
  Tilted　upon　her　saucy　head；　and　fist
  Raised　in　defiance；　Daisy　Fraser　stood。
  Headlong　she　had　been　hurled　from　out　the　hall
  Save　Wendell　Bloyd；　who　spoke　for　woman's　rights；
  Prevented；　and　the　bellowing　voice　of　Burchard。
  Then　；mid　applause　she　hastened　toward　the　stage
  And　flung　both　gold　and　silver　to　the　cause
  And　swiftly　left　the　hall。
  Meantime　upstood
  A　giant　figure；　bearded　like　the　son
  Of　Alcmene；　deep…chested；　round　of　paunch；
  And　spoke　in　thunder：　〃Over　there　behold
  A　man　who　for　the　truth　withstood　his　wife
  Such　is　our　spiritwhen　that　A。　D。　Blood
  Compelled　me　to　remove　Dom　Pedro〃
  Quick
  Before　Jim　Brown　could　finish；　Jefferson　Howard
  Obtained　the　floor　and　spake：　〃Ill　suits　the　time
  For　clownish　words；　and　trivial　is　our　cause
  If　naught's　at　stake　but　John　Cabanis；　wrath；
  He　who　was　erstwhile　of　the　other　side
  And　came　to　us　for　vengeance。　More's　at　stake
  Than　triumph　for　New　England　or　Virginia。
  And　whether　rum　be　sold；　or　for　two　years
  As　in　the　past　two　years；　this　town　be　dry
  Matters　but　little　Oh　yes；　reve