Poems (Proctor)/Peoria
PEORIA.(ILLINOIS.)
O the music of thy name, Peoria!When with May thy meadows flame,When the wild crab woos the beesTo its bowers, and Judas-treesTint thy budding woods with red;When from all thy groves and leas,As if grief and care were dead,And life and joy forever wed,Bluebirds, thrushes, orioles,In rapturous song pour forth their souls;Then I know 't was first in MayThy Indian lovers came this way,And, tranced with bloom and song of bird,Coined thee this melodious word,—Sweet as far-off bugle noteFall the syllables and float— Peoria!