dots-menu
×

Home  »  An American Anthology, 1787–1900  »  1357 “Extras”

Edmund Clarence Stedman, ed. (1833–1908). An American Anthology, 1787–1900. 1900.

By RichardBurton

1357 “Extras”

THE CROCUSES in the Square

Lend a winsome touch to the May;

The clouds are vanished away,

The weather is bland and fair;

Now peace seems everywhere.

Hark to the raucous, sullen cries:

“Extra! extra!”—tersely flies

The news, and a great hope mounts, or dies.

About the bulletin-boards

Dark knots of people surge;

Strained faces show, then merge

In the inconspicuous hordes

That yet are the Nation’s lords.

“Extra! extra! Big fight at sea!”

Was the luck with us? Is it victory?

Dear God, they died for you and me!

Meanwhile the crocuses down the street

With heaven’s own patience are calm and sweet.