Zoe Akins. Villanelle of City and Country. Hamilton Fish Armstrong, ed. 1917. The Book of New York Verse

Hamilton Fish Armstrong, ed. The Book of New York Verse. 1917.

Villanelle of City and Country

By Zoë Akins


BENEATH the arches of the leaves I lie,
And watch the Lovers wander—Song and Spring—
But oh, the towers set in Gotham’s sky!

A great triangle shaft uplifts on high
Its columned shrine wherein the presses sing;	5
Beneath the arches of the leaves I lie.

With flocks of clouds the Shepherd-wind goes by,
White poppies ’mid the waving grasses swing—
But oh, the towers set in Gotham’s sky!

As to a fairy castle we draw nigh	10
When home the ferries bear us, marvelling;
Beneath the arches of the leaves I lie.

Across the empty fields the trumpets die
That meadow larks unto the morning fling—
But oh, the towers set in Gotham’s sky!	15

Far off I hear the city’s aching cry,
Where Life and Death are Lovers, wandering;
Beneath the arches of the leaves I lie,
But oh, the towers set in Gotham’s sky!