The Poetical Works of Jonathan E. Hoag/San Francisco

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search

San Francisco

O city proud, by Vulcan overthrown!
  We saw thy stately homes that crowned the hill,
Ere swept by breath of deadly seething flames,
  That fearful night, whose thought is with us still.

Here fronts the setting sun yon Golden Gate,
  While widemouthed guns the mighty waters sweep,
In ceaseless guard against all alien foes;
  And watchful eyes their constant vigil keep.

At night we gaze upon the distant stars,
  And turn our lens on moon now dead and cold.
From off his peaks we see great shadows thrown,
  Where Vulcan wrought in caverns deep and old.

Farewell, thou paradise beside the sea!
  Farewell thy genial clime, thy sunkissed flowers,
Thy vineclad homes, thy brightly trellised walls,
  Thy stately palms, thy still and shady bowers!

Full oft in lonely nights I dream of thee,
  Of precious pearls we sought beside the bay.
For thus in life rare gems forgotten be;
  We idly cast them one by one away.

1921