Classic and Contemporary Poetry
BOWLING GREEN, by LOUISE MORGAN SILL First Line: Where the city's rushing throng Last Line: On the green. Subject(s): Bowling Green, New York City; Leisure; New York City - Dutch Period | ||||||||
Where the city's rushing throng Beats its burly way along Whitehall Street, Up where giant buildings frown On the pygmy people, down At their feet, Lies a modest bit of park That the people seldom mark In their haste, As they scatter to and fro, And like winds of heaven go, Fury-paced. But within this green enclosed Where the burghers, once reposed At their ease, Or at bowls displayed their skill Summer afternoons to kill, If you please Reigns some magic of the past That, amid the noisy blast All around, Sets a charm upon your ear As you enter, and you hear Not a sound; Not a murmur, save the tone Of a Dutchman, or the drone Of a bee; Or the laughter of a child As he scampers free and wild On the lea. You can see the Maying-time, When the maidens' voices chime Joyous notes; When the Neltjies and the rest Are arrayed in all their best Petticoats. And they dance with such a grace, And they blush with such a face Rose-and-cream As they curtsey, sweet and shy, That you wonder why you sigh As you dream. For they've vanished long ago, Burgher, goede vrow and beau, Damsel fair; And the smile that meets your eye, And the steps that patter by Are but air. Yet, 'tis said that every night When the moon is shining bright On the scene, Still the Dutchmen's placid souls Play their solemn game of bowls On the Green. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...FOR THE AVERY 'KNICKERBOCKER' by HENRY AUSTIN DOBSON THE KNICKERBOCKER'S ADDRESS TO THE STUYVESANT PEAR TREE, 1647-1857 by HENRY WEBB DUNSHEE A DEAL IN REAL ESTATE by ARTHUR GUITERMAN A LEGEND OF MAIDEN LANE by ARTHUR GUITERMAN A LILT IN FALL by ARTHUR GUITERMAN A SCANDAL IN NEW AMSTERDAM by ARTHUR GUITERMAN A SONG IN JUNE by ARTHUR GUITERMAN A SPRINGTIME PILGRIMAGE by ARTHUR GUITERMAN A TRIAL IN NEW AMSTERDAM by ARTHUR GUITERMAN MAIDEN LANE by LOUISE MORGAN SILL |
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