M. PS 1039 fl277 C3 1898 Copy 1 79) i Mmm AND OTHER POEMS BV JAMES ALLMAN. ^ NEW YORK. PRESS OF WM. HAMMER, 2 SPRING ST. CARMINA NOCTIS AND OTHER POEMS BT JAMES ALLMAN. NEW YORK. PRESS OF WM. HAMMER, 2 SPRING ST. 4735 Entered in the Library of Congress By J. Allman. A DREAM OF REVOLUTION. The Goddess of Revolt advances with wild flowing iair and iron sandals on her feet. Ferdinand Lass all c\ At Still midnight I hurried through the city, When prone in stillness and repose it lies, When the calm silent stars look down in pity As though kind nature, with her myriad eyes, Wept for the toil of man and womans woe Wept silent tears of light on all below, ir. Faint glimmering rays of light ieebly w^ere creeping, Into the shadows of the building high Showing in dim outline Magdalen weeping, As wdth her low bent head she wandered by ; On either side, two grim heaven reaching rows Of ghastly towers of want and filth arose. III. In anguish to my attic room I hurried, And to shut out each woeful sight and sound, Into the pillows soft my face I buried Soon sank I into sleep deep and profound, But lo! my slumber ceased for sounds of fear Loud murmuring cries of wrath weie drawing near. IV. I rose and in the deepest awe I peered, Out in tlie darkness listening. Slowly neared, The thundering sound of many thousand feet Marching in dense array down the dim street, Rose up a threatening cry from myriad tongues, "Rise for the rights of man death to ancient wrongs "! Glimmering torches shone with l)aneful red Over the marching throngs, glittering overhead Like pallid foam when ocean sKn-ni waves reel Flashed in the pale moonlight weapons of steel. Out from each tenement's small narrow door Fierce throngs of haggard men hurrying pour. While pallid wom^-n urge them on their way Or seizing w^eapons join the wild array. Nearer and nearer the surging many came Floated above their heads, like the living flame That guarded Israels van in the darkest night When through the desert land she took her flight, Revolutions lurid flag deep hued like blood Symbol of common cause sign of brotherliood. But lo! I shuddered at an awesome sight, A shape gigantic, a form of might, Rising as mountain peak over a storm, Towered from the multitude^ a lofty form. H«^r beauteous head loomed high against the skies A thousand angrrs flashed from out her eyes, Her golden tresses glittered as the}' streamed Like coils of living tire in the light that gleamed 8 From blazing torclies. In robust strength replete Was her white form like that of Greek athlete Her graceful limbs were in strong outline shown Through her loose clinging garb. A brazen zone Circled her waist, from whence a scabbard hung Empty. The naked sword her right arm swung Reaping a harvest grim while her left hand Held in the black midnight a blazing brand And as she marched with footsteps stern and slow She swayed the sword and firebrand to and fro. Wild cries that told of terrors and despairs Filled the night air: kings, priests and millionairs, With all the other men of fraud and might With cries of horror filled the awful night Bent they their tremblings forms and craven faces low, As with majestic gait sternly and slow, Crushing their heads with iron sandalled feet The Spirit of Revolt marched down the street. The pathway marked by her unswerving tread Was with a smoldering mass of ruins spread Palaces, chnrches, factories, ruined prone With shattered thrones and altars overthrown He wake was littered. Then strange to say, The form of wrath was gone and sudden day. Beauteous and fair burst on my dazzled sight. On every side rose palaces upright High halls of granite grey and marble white, Carven and built with skill most exquisite. Spread out fair flower strewn lawns on every hand, Bright limpid fountains flowed silvern and bland, And as tlicir uatrrs fell an 1 Mowed along- Tip ir rippling cadtMiccd tones kept linie wiili song-, Afid music l)orn<' uj)()n tlie suniUK r breeze HU]\ ri|)est fruits were pendant froni the trees. Pure heahliy children laucrhed in liearty ])lay In the pure sunsliine. ", Whence conies this day Sudden and l)eaute()us peaceful and serene "V Asked I when suddenly coming between, 'I'he bh.ssom laden bushes tliere a[)peared A form divine and me it slowly neared. She looked at me with wide unliincliing eyes, Not the bold stare of vice, or faint suprise Of shallow ])rudery, but the unblushing gaze Of girlhood guihdess pure in all its ways. Her thin but graceful garment careless hung From breast to knees and as it lightly clung, Keveaiejl her graceful liips and rounded thighs And smelling bofsonis easy fall and rise In vague outline, beneath its simple fold. Such garb was worn by Attic maids of old. " TrU me " suprised I said " Oh ! beauteous maid \N hat means this golden peace I see displayed, Whose are these verdant lawns? Whose halls are these Those i)retty children ])laying 'neath the trees Whence come they. Whence this happiness and peace" ? Tlie maid replied with graceful calm and ease, *• This is the happy kingdom of ecjuality Where justice is the king and all are free, Wliere all in common work for common good, Where lusty plentitude of clothes and food 5 Bless a pare people. Listen and bear The happy songs ofhiborers working near, Look and behold fair sturdy womanhood. List to the children singing in the Avood Hark how their silvern tongues in union ring Clianting the happy melody they sing " : * •«• -)f -^ ^ ^ Faded the vision fair, and the maid who spoke, AllI all ! was but a dream and I awoke. Y. The early gleams of daw^n faintly were prying, Into my attic chambers chilly gloom Sadly I heard a child painfully crying, A sickly infant in a near by room, I heard the pallid careworn mothers tones, Singing a sleeping song in time ^vith the groans. VI. f In the Ikall tenements toilers were stirring, And the poor wage slave wives were active too, In the foul sweaters dens machines were whirring, Work had began to last seventeen hours through. Want, suffering, toil and grief on every side In anguish of my soul loudly I cried. vn. " Oh ! ever toiling slaves millions in number, Armed with deep black despairs death dealing might, ^^'lK'n will ye waken from your passive slumber, And make those things be true T saw at night. \\ hen will ye rise in wrath and overthrow 'I'lu' idle few who thrive upon your woe." TWO STRANGE CITIES, In any esse there are two citi*'e, hostile one to the other, the city of the poor and the city of the rich ; and each of these contains very many cities; and if you deai with theui as one you will find yourself thorouofhly mistaken' but if you treat them as many and Abducted by him was the daughter fair Labor enslaved was chained his every limb, From faithful Mother Earth he was divorced, And into daily drudgery was forced. By the foul monster who had seized upon, Both Mother Eeartli and Daughter Wealth and held In selfish lust all pleasures as his own. In selfishness he took and he compelled Labor to toil and slave at his caprice. And this foul monsters name was Avarice, V. Lo ! pale with grief became proud Labor's face, And grey with want and toil his flowing hair, His lithe step, changed to a slow dragging pace, His songs to sighs of sorrow and despair. Thus slaved and sighed he long until one day His passive quiet sorrow passed away, . . And in its place a frenzied madness stole, Into his heart and fired with wrath his brain ; He seized the fiend who had him in control And crashed him lifeless. Then began again The reign of peace, love and equality, For Land and Labor met and Wealth was free. 30 AM I MY BROTHER'S KEEPER A vagabond in tattered garb attired, Haggard, unkempt, half-fanisbed, foul and tired, A Flemish city entered. Round he gazed, Hoping to meet a burgher but amazed He was to find the streets deserted all. Closed was each shop, empty each market stall. At length he met one, and of him enquired : "Pray where have all the busy folk retired"? " The city's patron saint upon this day. Is honored in the churches where to pray. The citizens have gone ; " the other said. Towards the church the beggar quickly sped. He entered, and though standing in the rear, Close to the door, distinctly he could hear A learned bishop preach whose sermon ran : On tlie Fatherhood of God and the Brotherhood of Man. In following strain : '' I tell you brethren true, God is our father and if there mid you . Be beggar low or sinful man then he Is son of god and brother unto me." My brother a bishop, thus the beggar thought. Well that's good news then eagerly he sought, The bishops palace and arriving there. The servants greeted him with wondering stare, The porter in a haughty manner asked : " Who are you V and tlien staggered back aghast, When " I'm th(? bishop's brother," (^uick replied 31 The beggar, and then waived him to one side, And through the gaping group of menials passed Into the dining liall, where a repast, Of ricliest viands on the table laid, Waited the bishop's coming. Loudly said The butler. '' Who are you with manners rude And garments filthy daring to intrude Into these rooms." The beggar cooly seated. Himself down at the table and repeated, In manner calm, " I am the bishops brother." The servants gazed in wonder at each other, Then wispered, '' It may really be that some, Dissolute brother has returned back home. But strange 'tis we heard not of him before." Just then the bishop strode within the door. In proud disdain the mendicant he eyed '' Who is this filthy vagabond, he cried " ? " I am your brother," came back the reply. Hotly the bishop bawled, " You dog you lie. Seize him, let him at once from here be hurled, I know no brother in the the whole wide world." THE VOICE OF CAPITAL I. The distant hills in sombre grandeur spread. Their undulating curves against the sky, As though they formed a black and purple bed, 32 In which the sun might go to rest and lie, Peaceful throughout the night in slumber deep, Till the larks morning song would stop his deep. II. The forest trees had changed their garb of green, To brown and red, and mellow glowing gold, For Autumn with its peaceful cool serene Mild breezes was at hand. The streamlet rolled. Singing in gurgling bass as it sped by, A duet with a thrush that chanted nigh. III. T looked with pleasure on the peaceful scene. And fell into poetic dream profound, A w^oodland nymph appeared to peep between The trees and : — Lo ! a loud and hideous sound, A hoarse stentorious lingering frightful shriek Was heard quite near, I rose its cause to seek. IV. Wide oaks and leafy willows formed a screen. That hid a grimy horror from my eyes, I peered their waving drooping bows between. And saw a group of mills and factories, Soiling tho blue vault with their Stygian smoke. Theirs were the shrill commanding tones that spoke. V. In answer to the loud commanding cry. 38 Of heartless capitals imperious call, I saw the pale faced mill hands drawing nigh, Care warn of forehead faint of gait were all. That avaricious crv in that pure place ! Those toil worn girls ! I fled with hurried pace. HOW A CAMEL MAY GO THROUGH THE EYE OF A NEEDLE. A sermon is a splendid opiate. And if you sleepless lie when night is late, The following advice I give to you : Esconse yourself within the cuishioned pew, Of some dim church, list to the drawling drone. Of a divine who in a monotone Will preach a sermon ponderous vague and deep, Soon you will nod and then fall fast asleep. Oft have I this effective opiate tried, But once it failed me. On that day I hied Into a lordly temple on Fifth Avenue, And dodging the sexton in a cosy pew, I nestled down, but sleep forsook my eyes, Instead of closing them in great surprise, Wider they opened for a clergyman Preached to the wealthy, a discourse w^hich ran, In manner thus : '' The gospel tells us all, An awful truth which truly should appall All who by thrift have many millions made, 84 For the redeemer wlien on earth once said, Addressing rich folks, harder far 'tis for A wealthy man to enter in the door, That leads to heavenly bliss than through a needle's eye, 'Tis for a camel huge to pass. Now brethren I, Being possessed of much of this worlds wealth, And you my brethren being like myself, Immensely rich, it is appropriate here ; That I should make this obscure passage clear. The passage brethren does not mean at all, That camels must pass through the opening small, In needles where we put the slender thread ; But figurative words the good Lord said. It was the rule in times now passed away And still is, in the Orient, to this day. To gird the city with a massive wall. The ciiizens to harbor safe from all Foes from without. Many a yonderous gate Pierced these huge walls, and when the hour was late 'Jliese gates were shut, the bolts were shot in tight, But lest a citizen should in the night B\^ untoward event be outside left, A smaller entrance a close narrow cleft Guarded by soldiers, was the large gate nigh, A few feet wide and barely six feet high, And this small gate was called the needle's eye. A traveler who upon a camel rode Arriving late and anxious his abode To reach that night would sometimes passing through This narrow gate, straggle his camel too, 35 To get wiiliin. Grasping by the nose 'J'lie patient beast, lie'd pull while showers of blows Were rained bj slaves on its posterior, And by much flogging, tugging, through the door At length with labor they the huge beast drew. This is the meaning of the verse. Now you, My wealthy brethren will plain perceive That you may enter heaven. I believe, These words so truthful and appropriate Will please you much. Amen Pass round the plate." " BETTER TENEMENTS AND CLEANER STREETS." A pretty boy-orator spoke from a truck, Of better tenements and cleaner streets : A stagey attitude the youngster struck. And mouthed as sweetly as a young calf bleats, He told of heavenly joys the poor would know, If they would heed his lispings and elect A wealthy college president, Seth Low, A gentleman most worthy and select. A homeless, workless toiler stood near by ; He heard the promises so pertly made ; In stern protest he raised his fist on high These wild and hopeless words he fiercely said : " What means to me your ' better tenement,' 36 Your * cleaner street,' if, being workless, I Cannot for better tenements pay rent. And will upon your cleaner streets of hunger die? TO A DAISY, Star of the sward, ! golden hearted flower. Oft have I gazed upon thy beauteous grace, m meadows green, in dark secluded bower, Or on the moorland's drear far-reaching space ; Thy petals spotless pure to my eyes are, Like the bright rays which leave a golden star. Or pure effusions from the noble soul Of a poor lonely man his lot among. The striving, suffering, working, myriad whole Who often live like heroes, die unsung In fames loud tones. How like art thou to these. Oh ! numerous blooming flower, star of the earth. Shining in darkest gloom mid forrest trees, Bright symbol of pure unrecorded worth Pluck daisies if thou fairest fllowers would know, If highest virtues stoop unto the low. 37 A SONG OF SOLITUDE, I. Sitting in a ruined city, By the boundless silent sea, Musing much in grief and pity While on the immensity, Of the broad bl ue water gazing, Thinking, thinking, thoughts amazing, On was, and is, and yet may be. II. In long past ages, time was when Here were halls and humble homes. And buisy thriving throngs of men Who swarmed beneath high gilded domes. Here brought merchants and wise sages. The wealth of lands, the lore of ages, Here at eventide was heard, The bacchnal's wild luxurious song, Here the martial trumpets stirred The soul of youth as warriors strong. Marched in armour from these portals To work upon their fellow mortals, All the dreary desolation. Which curses now this long past nation. Kings, palaces and pageants gay, Grand temples, priests both grave and grey, 38 Earth knew for one brief space their pride, Time the impartial made one mighty stride, Raised his keen scythe and swept them all aside, III. Here is stillness drear and solemn, Solitude but seldom stirred, Save when part each ruined column Slinks the hyena. When the bird That sings at mid-night wildly \vailing, Sets the shrill death echoes hailing. Here at eventide's dim light Mid past scenes of joy and sorrow, The ghastly vampire takes his flight, And the dawn light of the morrow With a joyless learing blare Will show but sadness everywhere. Each ruined arch, each shattered stone, Like tombs of kings and warriors gone. Oh ! nation's grave-yard, stones and sands ! Siern epitaph marked by the hands Of Time and Fate upon this shore In scorn of mightiness of you, Love learning kingdoms dead for evermore. IV. It may be yet in many a land, In many a busy human hive, Where swarming noisy merchants stand, Where arts and industries now thrive. 89 This desolation may prevail, And peoples laws and nations fail. Oh ! greedy avarice of wealth, Oh ! arrogance of power and cast, Ambitions frenzied lust of self, How often have ye overcast, Nations and empires long ago Dragged mighty earnest men so low, That they forgot the heroes part, The soldiers fame, the skillful art, Effete became and ceased to be. Shall this with living nations be, As in this ruined city by the sea ? Sitting in a ruined city, By the boundless silent sea. Musing much in grief and pity While on the immensity, Of the deep blue water gazing. Thinking, thinking, thoughts amazing, On was, and is, and yet may be. WHY THE DEVILS WENT ON STRIKE, L A devil went into a mansion uptown, And into a rich lady's ear, He wispered. In shame, she bent her her head down And drew back in horror and fear ; 40 She shrank from the evil conveyed in the word, She blushed at the wicked suggestion she heard, But just then a handsome young lover came in, She listened, she smiled, and she yielded to sin. The devil in glee flew downward to hell, To Satan he made his report, His master replied : *' You did very well, Return now and hunt down the sport." IT. The devil went into a concert hall. And he met the lady there, A woman she was now in common with all Who with colored cheeks and hair, And carmined lips, which lyingly told Of love, while hearts were craving gold, The woman, the devil hailed with glee, She embraced him and sat upon his knee. The devil in glee flew downward to hell, To Satan he made his report His master replied, " You did very well, Return now and hunt down the sport." III. The devil went down to Chinatown, And at length he discovered there, His victim attired in a fllthy gown. He features with lust and despair. 41 Where haggard, and pale, and with sensual lips, Opium she drew in with feverish sips. At the squalor and filth in deepest dismay, The fiend gazed in horror, then hurried away. The devil disgusted downward fled. To his master lie made his report, But w^hen. ''go back again" Satan said. In defiance he made this retort. IV. ** The want and the vice, the squalor and smell, In those dens of the low proletaire, Are so friglitfully worse than the w^orst here in hell. That really I cannot go there, You say you insist. Then a meeting I'll call, Of the laboring devils one and all, Order and fume as much as you like. At once we will start on a general strike." CONTENTS PAGE. A Dream of Kevolution ..... 1 Two Strange Cities . . . . . .6 The Modern Magdalen . . . , 9 A Lady and a Woman • .... 10 The Apotheosis of Capitalism .... 14 Nihil Habeo Nihil Curo . , . . .18 The Rkdeemer and the Rich Pharasee . . . 19 St. Peter and tae Politicians ..... 25 An Allegory ....... 27 Am I My Brothers Keeper? . . . .30 Thk Vou^e of Capital ...... 31 How A Camel May Go Through the Eye of a Needle . 33 "Better Tknkmrnts aND Cleaner Streets.'' . 35 To a Daisy . . ... ... 36 A Song of Solitude ..... 37 Why the Devils Went on Strike . .qq LIBRPRY OF CONGRESS