Classic and Contemporary Poetry
FINIS, by ALEXANDER ANDERSON Poet's Biography First Line: The swart smoke geni with his heart aglow Last Line: Of him who comes behind. Alternate Author Name(s): Surfaceman Subject(s): Railroads; Railways; Trains | ||||||||
THE swart smoke geni with his heart aglow, And all his giant strength and vigour strung, To help our toiling lower gods below He still remains unsung. I have but caught, in leaping to the side To let him pass in smoke and thunder, dim, Faint half-heard echoes from that rushing tide, Of song which follows him. But the keen years that for our coming kind, Keep greater triumphs than to-day we claim, Will bring a poet in whose heart the wind Of song will leap like flame. He, born into a richer newer time, And with a wealthier past behind, will sing, Our wild fire-monster blurr'd with smoke and grime, Traffic's sole lord and king: In music worthy of that soul of fire, Which in him glows and leaps Like lightnings, ere they cleave in sullen ire Some jagged cloud that sweeps The hills in muttered fear. My own dim song Will fade and sink, as sinks a fitful wind, Before the grander music, wild and strong Of him who comes behind. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE RAILWAY by ARTHUR CHRISTOPHER BENSON WHAT WE DID TO WHAT WE WERE by PHILIP LEVINE BURYING GROUND BY THE TIES by ARCHIBALD MACLEISH WAY-STATION by ARCHIBALD MACLEISH TWILIGHT TRAIN by EILEEN MYLES THE CAVEMAN ON THE TRAIN by JOHN FREDERICK NIMS CUDDLE DOON by ALEXANDER ANDERSON A SONG FOR MY FELLOWS by ALEXANDER ANDERSON A SONG OF LABOUR; DEDICATED TO MY FELLOW-WORKERS WITH PICK AND SHOVEL by ALEXANDER ANDERSON |
|