CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS, where would I be If you had never crossed the sea, If you had never thought the earth a ball, If you had never cared to sail at all? Suppose the kind Queen Isabel Had loved her jewels far too well To sell them for a sailor true Like you, Christopher Columbus; Suppose your small ships made of wood, Were not so trusty, strong, and good, We should not keep your day each year, And I should not be standing here; Perhaps I'd live far, far away And never know Columbus Day. My house and every building tall -- The school would not be here at all; Along the street where people go Only strong, strong trees would grow; And everywhere on lake and hill The land would be quite dark and still, With only wigwams on the ground And Indian children walking round, And not a stars and stripes in sight At evening or in morning light! O dear, I wonder where I'd be If you had never crossed the sea, Christopher Columbus; I like it better far this way; I like to live at home and play; And so I'll keep Columbus Day! I'm glad you sailed, I'm glad you knew The earth is round; I'm glad the good queen trusted you, I'm glad you were so brave and wise and true! Christopher Columbus. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...AUGUST FIRST by HAYDEN CARRUTH WHEN I WROTE A LITTLE by HAYDEN CARRUTH MARIA CALLAS, THE WOMAN BEHIND THE LEGEND* by MADELINE DEFREES FRAGMENT by JAMES WELDON JOHNSON THE PAST IS THE PRESENT (2) by MARIANNE MOORE MODERN PARAPHRASE OF SHAKESPEARE'S SONNET 29 by GEORGE SANTAYANA |