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Lindsay, Vachel, 1879-1931

"The Congo and Other Poems"

#
"'Tis the
NIGHT
Of doom,"
Say the ding-dong doom-bells.
"NIGHT
Of doom,"
Say the ding-dong doom-bells.
Faster, faster
The red flames come.
"Hum grum," say the engines,
"Hum grum grum."
# Shriller and higher. #
"Buzz, buzz,"
Says the crowd.
"See, see,"
Calls the crowd.
"Look out,"
Yelps the crowd
And the high walls fall: --
Listen to the music
Of the firemen's ball.
Listen to the music
Of the firemen's ball.
# Heavy bass. #
"'Tis the
NIGHT
Of doom,"
Say the ding-dong doom-bells.
"NIGHT
Of doom,"
Say the ding-dong doom-bells.
Whangaranga, whangaranga,
Whang, whang, whang,
Clang, clang, clangaranga,
# Bass, much slower. #
Clang, clang, clang.
Clang--a--ranga--
Clang--a--ranga--
Clang,
Clang,
Clang.
Listen -- to -- the -- music --
Of the firemen's ball --

Section Two
"Many's the heart that's breaking
If we could read them all
After the ball is over." (An old song.)

# To be read or sung slowly and softly,
in the manner of lustful, insinuating music. #
Scornfully, gaily
The bandmaster sways,
Changing the strain
That the wild band plays.


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