Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE CITY THAT WILL NOT REPENT, by NICHOLAS VACHEL LINDSAY Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: Climbing the heights of berkeley Last Line: Dance, tho' he smite you dead! Alternate Author Name(s): Lindsay, Vachel Subject(s): San Francisco | ||||||||
Climbing the heights of Berkeley Nightly I watch the West. There lies new San Francisco, Sea-maid in purple dressed, Wearing a dancer's girdle All to inflame desire: Scorning her days of sackcloth, Scorning her cleansing fire. See, like a burning city Sets now the red sun's dome. See, mystic firebrands sparkle There on each store and home. See how the golden gateway Burns with the day to be -- Torch-bearing fiends of portent Loom o'er the earth and sea. Not by the earthquake daunted Nor by new fears made tame, Painting her face and laughing Plays she a new-found game. Here on her half-cool cinders 'Frisco abides in mirth, Planning the wildest splendor Ever upon the earth. Here on this crumbling rock-ledge 'Frisco her all will stake, Blowing her bubble-towers, Swearing they will not break, Rearing her Fair transcendent, Singing with piercing art, Calling to Ancient Asia, Wooing young Europe's heart. Here where her God has scourged her Wantoning, singing sweet: Waiting her mad bad lovers Here by the judgment-seat! 'Frisco, God's doughty foeman, Scorns and blasphemes him strong. Tho' he again should smite her She would not slack her song. Nay, she would shriek and rally -- 'Frisco would ten times rise! Not till her last tower crumbles, Not till her last rose dies, Not till the coast sinks seaward, Not till the cold tides beat Over the high white Shasta, 'Frisco will cry defeat. God loves this rebel city, Loves foemen brisk and game, Tho', just to please the angels, He may send down his flame. God loves the golden leopard Tho' he may spoil her lair. God smites, yet loves the lion. God makes the panther fair. Dance then, wild guests of 'Frisco, Yellow, bronze, white and red! Dance by the golden gateway -- Dance, tho' he smite you dead! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...STREETS OF PEARL AND GOLD by CAROLYN KIZER HIKING ON THE COAST RANGE by KENNETH REXROTH THE STATUE OF ST. FRANCIS by LAWRENCE FERLINGHETTI AN ELEGY TO DISPEL GLOOM (ASSASSINATIONS OF MOSCONE & MILK) by LAWRENCE FERLINGHETTI THE ANGELUS; HEARD AT THE MISSION DOLORES IN SAN FRANCISCO, 1868 by FRANCIS BRET HARTE TO SAN FRANCISCO by SAMUEL JOHN ALEXANDER SONNETS OF SEVEN CITIES: SAN FRANCISCO by BERTON BRALEY SAN FRANCISCO HARBOR by NANCY BUCKLEY A NET TO SNARE THE MOONLIGHT by NICHOLAS VACHEL LINDSAY ABRAHAM LINCOLN WALKS AT MIDNIGHT by NICHOLAS VACHEL LINDSAY GENERAL WILLIAM BOOTH ENTERS INTO HEAVEN by NICHOLAS VACHEL LINDSAY |
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