by Vachel Lindsay (1879 - 1931)
Abraham Lincoln walks at midnight
Language: English
It is portentous, and a thing of state That here at midnight, in our little town A mourning figure walks, and will not rest, Near the old court-house, pacing up and down. Or by his homestead, or by shadowed yards He lingers where his children used to play, Or through the market, on the well-worn stones He stalks until the dawn-stars burn away. A bronzed, lank man! His suit of ancient black, A famous high top-hat, and plain worn shawl Make him the quaint, great figure that men love, The prairie-lawyer, master of us all. He cannot sleep upon his hillside now. He is among us:--as in times before! And we who toss or lie awake for long Breathe deep, and start, to see him pass the door. His head is bowed. He thinks on men and kings. Yea, when the sick world cries, how can he sleep? Too many peasants fight, they know not why, Too many homesteads in black terror weep. The sins of all the war-lords burn his heart. He sees the dreadnaughts scouring every main. He carries on his shawl-wrapped shoulders now The bitterness, the folly and the pain. He cannot rest until a spirit-dawn Shall come:--the shining hope of Europe free: The league of sober folk, the Workers' Earth, Bringing long peace to Cornland, Alp and Sea. It breaks his heart that kings must murder still, That all his hours of travail here for men Seem yet in vain. And who will bring white peace That he may sleep upon his hill again?
Text Authorship:
- by Vachel Lindsay (1879 - 1931), "Abraham Lincoln Walks at Midnight", appears in The Congo and Other Poems, first published 1914 [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Ruth Olive Bradley (b. 1894?), "Abraham Lincoln walks at midnight", published 1959 [ mixed chorus and piano ] [sung text not yet checked]
- by Roy Harris (1898 - 1979), "Abraham Lincoln walks at midnight", published 1955 [ mezzo-soprano, violin, violoncello, and piano ] [sung text not yet checked]
- by Elie Siegmeister (1909 - 1991), "Abraham Lincoln walks at midnight", published 1939 [ SATB chorus, piano or orchestra ] [sung text not yet checked]
- by John David White (b. 1931), "Abraham Lincoln walks at midnight", published c1972 [ SATB chorus and piano or orchestra ], from Three Madrigals, no. 2, NY : G. Schirmer [sung text not yet checked]
Settings in other languages, adaptations, or excerpts:
- Also set in English, [adaptation] ; composed by Abbie Betinis.
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2005-09-26
Line count: 32
Word count: 258