Upton Sinclair, ed. (1878–1968). rn The Cry for Justice: An Anthology of the Literature of Social Protest. 1915.

The Coming Singer

George Sterling

(California poet, born 1869)

THE VEIL before the mystery of things

Shall stir for him with iris and with light;

Chaos shall have no terror in his sight

Nor earth a bond to chafe his urgent wings;

With sandals beaten from the crown of kings

He shall tread down the altars of their night,

And stand with Silence on her breathless height,

To hear what song the star of morning sings.

With perished beauty in his hands as clay,

Shall he restore futurity its dream.

Behold! his feet shall take a heavenly way

Of choric silver and of chanting fire,

Till in his hands unshapen planets gleam,

’Mid murmurs from the Lion and the Lyre.