Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, A CITY VOICE, by THEODOSIA (PICKERING) GARRISON


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

A CITY VOICE, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Outside here in the city the burning pavements lie
Last Line: And god's green trees and god's blue skies above me for a space.
Alternate Author Name(s): Faulks, Frederick J., Mrs.
Subject(s): Cities; Nature; Urban Life


OUTSIDE here in the city the burning pavements lie,
There's heat and grime and blown black dust to help the day go by,
There's the groaning of the city like a goaded, beaten beast; --
I know a place where God's great trees go up to meet His sky
Like an army green with banners, and a happy wind released,
Goes swinging like a merry child among the branches high.

Outside here in the city there's a poison in the air --
The fevered, heavy hand o' heat that smites and may not spare;
There's little comfort in the night -- there's torment in the day; --
I know a place where cool and deep the quiet lake lies bare,
All day about its shaded brink the wild birds dart and play,
And willows dip their finger-tips like dainty ladies there.

O, the heart of me is hungering for my own, own place,
I'm tortured with the slaying heat, the dizzy headlong race.
O, for the soft, cold touch of grass about my tired feet,
The breath of pine and cedar blown against my weary face,
The lip-lap of the water like a little song and sweet,
And God's green trees and God's blue skies above me for a space.





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