Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE LEGEND OF THE BRONX, by ARTHUR GUITERMAN


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE LEGEND OF THE BRONX, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: With sword and bible, brood and dame
Last Line: "come to our valley of homes!"
Subject(s): Bronx, New York City; Legends; New York City - Dutch Period; Peace; Summer


WITH sword and Bible, brood and dame,
Across the seas from Denmark came
Stout Jonas Bronck. He roved among
The wooded vales of Ah-qua-hung.
"Good sooth! on every hand," quoth he,
"Are pleasant lands and fair to see;
But which were best to plow and till
And meetest both for manse and mill?"

"Bronck! Bronck! Bronck!"
Called the frogs from the reeds of the river;
"Bronck! Bronck! Bronck!"
From the marshes and pools of the stream.
"Here let your journeyings cease;
Blest of the Bounteous Giver,
Ours is the Valley of Peace,
Here is the home of your dream."

"Oho!" laughed Jonas Bronck; "I ween
These pop-eyed elves in bottle-green
Do call my name to show the spot
Predestined! -- Here I cast my lot!"
So there he reared his dwelling-place
And built a mill, with wheel and race.
And even now, beneath the hill
When summer nights are fair and still:

"Bronck! Bronck! Bronck!"
Rise the cadenced batrachian numbers;
"Bronck! Bronck! Bronck!"
Chant a myriad chorister gnomes;
"High on the shadowy crest
Under the hemlock he slumbers.
Here is the region of rest;
Come to our Valley of Homes!"





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