  [Loudly and rapidly with a leader, College yell fashion] IProud men Eternally Go about, Slander me, Call me the “Calliope.” Sizz . . . . . Fizz . . . . . III am the Gutter Dream, Tune-maker, born of steam, Tooting joy, tooting hope. I am the Kallyope, Car called the Kallyope. Willy willy willy wah HOO! See the flags: snow-white tent, See the bear and elephant, See the monkey jump the rope, Listen to the Kallyope, Kallyope, Kallyope! Soul of the rhinoceros And the hippopotamus (Listen to the lion roar!) Jaguar, cockatoot, Loons, owls, Hoot, Hoot. Listen to the lion roar, Listen to the lion roar, Listen to the lion R-O-A-R! Hear the leopard cry for gore, Willy willy willy wah HOO! Hail the bloody Indian band, Hail, all hail the popcorn stand, Hail to Barnum’s picture there, People’s idol everywhere, Whoop, whoop, whoop, WHOOP! Music of the mob am I, Circus day’s tremendous cry:— I am the Kallyope, Kallyope, Kallyope! Hoot toot, hoot toot, hoot toot, hoot toot, Willy willy willy wah HOO! Sizz, fizz . . . . . IIIBorn of mobs, born of steam, Listen to my golden dream, Listen to my golden dream, Listen to my G-O-L-D-E-N D-R-E-A-M! Whoop whoop whoop whoop WHOOP! I will blow the proud folk low, Humanize the dour and slow, I will shake the proud folk down, (Listen to the lion roar!) Popcorn crowds shall rule the town— Willy willy willy wah HOO! Steam shall work melodiously, Brotherhood increase. You’ll see the world and all it holds For fifty cents apiece. Willy willy willy wah HOO! Every day a circus day. What? Well, almost every day. Nevermore the sweater’s den, Nevermore the prison pen. Gone the war on land and sea That aforetime troubled men. Nations all in amity, Happy in their plumes arrayed In the long bright street parade. Bands a-playing every day. What? Well, almost every day. I am the Kallyope, Kallyope, Kallyope! Willy willy willy wah HOO! Hoot, toot, hoot, toot, Whoop whoop whoop whoop, Willy willy willy wah HOO! Sizz, fizz . . . . . IVEvery soul Resident In the earth’s one circus tent! Every man a trapeze king Then a pleased spectator there. On the benches! In the ring! While the neighbors gawk and stare And the cheering rolls along. Almost every day a race When the merry starting gong Rings, each chariot on the line, Every driver fit and fine With the steel-spring Roman grace. Almost every day a dream, Almost every day a dream. Every girl, Maid or wife, Wild with music, Eyes a-gleam With that marvel called desire: Actress, princess, fit for life, Armed with honor like a knife, Jumping thro’ the hoops of fire. (Listen to the lion roar!) Making all the children shout Clowns shall tumble all about, Painted high and full of song While the cheering rolls along, Tho’ they scream, Tho’ they rage, Every beast In his cage, Every beast In his den That aforetime troubled men. VI am the Kallyope, Kallyope, Kallyope, Tooting hope, tooting hope, tooting hope, tooting hope; Shaking window-pane and door With a crashing cosmic tune, With the war-cry of the spheres, Rhythm of the roar of noon, Rhythm of Niagara’s roar, Voicing planet, star and moon, Shrieking of the better years. Prophet-singers will arise, Prophets coming after me, Sing my song in softer guise With more delicate surprise; I am but the pioneer Voice of the Democracy; I am the gutter-dream, I am the golden dream, Singing science, singing steam. I will blow the proud folk down, (Listen to the lion roar!) I am the Kallyope, Kallyope, Kallyope, Tooting hope, tooting hope, tooting hope, tooting hope, Willy willy willy wah HOO! Hoot toot, hoot toot, hoot toot, hoot toot, Whoop whoop, whoop whoop, Whoop whoop, whoop whoop, Willy willy willy wah HOO! Sizz ..... Fizz ..... The Forum Nicholas Vachel Lindsay |
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