Contents -BIBLIOGRAPHIC RECORD

Harriet Monroe, ed. (1860–1936). The New Poetry: An Anthology. 1917.

General William Booth Enters into Heaven

By Vachel Lindsay

BOOTH led boldly with his big bass drum.

Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?

The saints smiled gravely, and they said, “He’s come.”

Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?Bass drums

Walking lepers followed, rank on rank,

Lurching bravos from the ditches dank,

Drabs from the alleyways and drug-fiends pale—

Minds still passion-ridden, soul-powers frail!

Vermin-eaten saints with mouldy breath

Unwashed legions with the ways of death—

Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?

Every slum had sent its half-a-score

The round world over—Booth had groaned for more.

Every banner that the wide world flies

Bloomed with glory and transcendent dyes.

Big-voiced lasses made their banjos bang!Banjos

Tranced, fanatical, they shrieked and sang,

Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?

Hallelujah! It was queer to see

Bull-necked convicts with that land make free!

Loons with bazoos blowing blare, blare, blare—

On, on, upward through the golden air.

Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?

Booth died blind, and still by faith he trod,

Eyes still dazzled by the ways of God.

Booth led boldly and he looked the chief:Bass drums slower and softer

Eagle countenance in sharp relief,

Beard a-flying, air of high command

Unabated in that holy land.

Jesus came from out the Court-House door,

Stretched his hands above the passing poor.

Booth saw not, but led his queer ones thereFlutes

Round and round the mighty Court-House square.

Yet in an instant all that blear review

Marched on spotless, clad in raiment new.

The lame were straightened, withered limbs uncurled

And blind eyes opened on a new sweet world.

Drabs and vixens in a flash made whole!Bass drums louder and faster

Gone was the weasel-head, the snout, the jowl;

Sages and sibyls now, and athletes clean,

Rulers of empires, and of forests green!

The hosts were sandalled and their wings were fire—

Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?

But their noise played havoc with the angel-choir.Grand chorus tambourines—all instruments in full blast

Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?

Oh, shout Salvation! it was good to see

Kings and princes by the Lamb set free.

The banjos rattled and the tambourines

Jing-jing-jingled in the hands of queens!

And when Booth halted by the curb for prayer

He saw his Master through the flag-filled air.Reverently sung—no instruments

Christ came gently with a robe and crown

For Booth the soldier while the throng knelt down.

He saw King Jesus—they were face to face,

And he knelt a-weeping in that holy place.

Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?