SELECT POETRY. CHICAGO.

Tuapeka Times, Volume V, Issue 230, 27 June 1872, Page 9

SELECT POETRY. CHICAGO.

Men said at vespers :-

"All is well!"

In one wild night the city fell ; Fell shrines of prayer and marts of gain ' Before the fiery hurricane. On threescore spires had sunset shone, Where ghastly sunrise looked on none ; Men clasped each other's hands, and said :— " The city of the West Is dead !" JBrave hearts who fought in slow retreat, The fiends of fire from street to street, Turned powerless to the blinding glare, The dumb defiance, of despair. A sadden impulse thrilled each wire That signalled round that sea of fire ; Swift words of cheer, warm heart-throbs came, In tears of pity died the flame ! From East, from "West, from South and North, The uit- ssages of hope shot forth, ■ And, underneath the severing wave, The world, full-handed, reached to save. Fair seemed the old ; but fairer still The new, the dreary void shall fill With dearer homes than those o'erthrown, . Fo» love shall lay each corner-stone. Rise, stricken city !— from thee throw The ashen sackcloth of thy woe ; < And build, as to Amphion's strain, To gongs of cheer thy walls again ! How shrivelled in thy hot distress The primal sin of selfishness ! How instant rose to take thy part, The angel in the human heart ! Ah ! not. In vain the flames that tossed Above thy dreadiul holocaust ; The Chxist again has preached through thee The Gospel of Hunmnity ! Then lift once more thy towers on high. And fret with spires the Western sky, To tell that God is yet with us. And love is still miraculous ! - "Whittiek.