The Congo and Other Poems
Vachel Lindsay's chanted "higher vaudeville": "The Congo", "Abraham Lincoln Walks at Midnight".
Measured across the book
Across its 2,448 lines, 94% of stressed syllables fall on the beat (95% interval 93% to 94%). Alliteration runs at 1.16 times what shuffling the words would give (0.28 observed against 0.24 expected). 23% of the lines have a feminine ending.
Baselines and intervals are described in the methods.
Contents
First Sectiontrochaic trimeter · 10 linesIncensetrochaic trimeter · 18 linesTheir Basic Savagery48 linesTheir Irrepressible High SpiritsAABB · 106 linesThe Santa Fe Trailtrochaic pentameter · 145 linesSection Onetrochaic trimeter · 75 linesSection Twoiambic dimeter · 83 linesSection Threeiambic trimeter · 30 linesThe Master of the Danceanapaestic dimeter · 148 linesThe Mysterious Catiambic tetrameter · AABB · 23 linesA Dirge for a Righteous Kitteniambic trimeter · 14 linesYankee Doodletrochaic tetrameter · 60 linesThe Black Hawk War of the Artiststrochaic trimeter · 48 linesThe Jingo and the Minstreltrochaic trimeter · 82 linesI Heard Immanuel Singingiambic tetrameter · 80 linesAn Argumentiambic pentameter · 20 linesThe Rhymer's Reply. Incense and SplendorAABB · 52 linesIn Memory of a Childiambic trimeter · 16 linesGalahad, Knight Who PerishedAABB · 18 linesThe Leaden-eyediambic pentameter · 8 linesAn Indian Summer Day on the Prairiecommon measure · 16 linesThe Hearth Eternaltrochaic trimeter · 88 linesBy the Spring, at Sunsetiambic pentameter · 39 linesLove and Lawanapaestic tetrameter · 8 linesThe Perfect Marriageiambic hexameter · AABB · 45 linesDarling Daughter of Babyloniambic tetrameter · 40 linesThe Amaranthiambic pentameter · 16 linesThe Alchemist's Petitioniambic pentameter · AABB · 11 linesThe Hope of the Resurrectioniambic pentameter · AABB · 16 linesPoem IIiambic pentameter · AABB · 20 linesThe Traveller-heart30 linesThe North Star Whispers to the Blacksmith's Soniambic tetrameter · ABAB · 40 linesThe Lioniambic tetrameter · AABB · 8 linesAn Explanation of the Grasshoppertrochaic trimeter · 4 linesThe Dangerous Little Boy Fairiesiambic tetrameter · 28 linesParvenucommon measure · 8 linesThe Spider and the Ghost of the Flyiambic trimeter · 12 linesCrickets on a Strikeiambic tetrameter · ABAB · 8 linesDedicated to Lucy Batesiambic pentameter · 56 linesMoving-picture Actresstrochaic trimeter · 76 linesSunshinecommon measure · 37 linesAn Apology for the Bottle Volcaniciambic tetrameter · 56 linesRhymes for Glorianaiambic tetrameter · 8 linesOn Suddenly Receiving a Curl Long Refuseddactylic tetrameter · 12 linesOn Receiving One of Gloriana's Lettersiambic tetrameter · 16 linesIn Praise of Gloriana's Remarkable Golden Hairiambic tetrameter · 16 linesOnce More—To Glorianaiambic tetrameter · 8 linesEuclidiambic tetrameter · 12 linesThe Haughty Snail-kingiambic tetrameter · 19 linesWhat the Rattlesnake Saidcommon measure · 8 linesThe Moon's the North Wind's Cookyshort measure · 20 linesWhat the Gray-winged Fairy Saidcommon measure · 36 linesOn the Garden-walliambic tetrameter · 20 linesWritten for a Musicianshort measure · 29 linesThe Encyclopaediaiambic tetrameter · 8 linesWhat the Miner in the Desert Saidiambic tetrameter · 12 linesWhat the Coal-heaver Saidiambic tetrameter · 12 linesWhat the Moon Sawiambic trimeter · 12 linesWhat Semiramis Saidiambic tetrameter · 12 linesWhat the Ghost of the Gambler Saidiambic tetrameter · 16 linesThe Spice-treeiambic dimeter · 37 linesThe Scissors-grindercommon measure · 60 linesAladdin and the Jinndactylic trimeter · 40 linesThe Strength of the Lonelyiambic trimeter · 8 linesAbraham Lincoln Walks at Midnightiambic pentameter · 32 linesII. A Curse for Kingsiambic pentameter · 44 linesWho Knows?iambic pentameter · 8 linesTo Buddhaiambic pentameter · 12 linesThe Unpardonable Siniambic pentameter · 16 linesAbove the Battle's Frontiambic pentameter · 32 lines
About this text
Public domain. Text from The Congo, and Other Poems, Project Gutenberg ebook #1021. Free to read, print, copy and reuse.