General William Booth enters into Heaven, and other poems/Springfield Magical

by Nicholas Vachel Lindsay

SPRINGFIELD MAGICAL

IN this, the City of my Discontent,
Sometimes there comes a whisper from the grass,
"Romance, Romance—is here. No Hindu town
Is quite so strange. No Citadel of Brass
By Sinbad found, held half such love and hate;
No picture-place in a picture-book
Such webs of Friendship, Beauty, Greed and Fate!"

In this, the City of my Discontent
Down from the sky, up from the smoking deep
Wild legends new and old burn round my bed
While trees and grass and men are wrapped in sleep.
Angels come down with Christmas in their hearts,
Gentle, whimsical, laughing, heaven-sent;
And, for a day, fair Peace have given me
In this, the City of my Discontent!