Poem by Vachel Lindsay

Sweet Briars of the Stairways

We are happy all the time 
Even when we fight: 
Sweet briars of the stairways, 
Gay fairies of the grime; 
We, who are playing to-night.

”Our feet are in the gutters, 
Our eyes are sore with dust, 
But still our eyes are bright. 
The wide street roars and mutters — 
We know it works because it must — 
We, who are playing to-night!

”Dirt is everlasting. — We never, never fear it. 
Toil is never ceasing. — We will play until we near it. 
Tears are never ending. — When once real tears have come; 

”When we see our people as they are — 
Our fathers — broken, dumb — 

Our mothers — broken, dumb — 
The weariest of women and of men; 
Ah — then our eyes will lose their light — 
Then we will never play again — 
We, who are playing to-night.”

1. With a Bouquet of Twelve Roses
2. What the Sexton Said
3. The Firemen’s Ball
4. The Booker Washington Trilogy
5. When Bryan Speaks

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