Cross Roads

FROM A CITY WINDOW

     The dust is thick on the city street,
        The smoke on the city sky
     Hangs dense and gray at the close of day—
        And the city crowds surge by
     With heavy feet through the summer heat
        Like a sluggish sullen tide;...
     But hand in hand through a magic land
        We are wandering side by side.

     For somewhere, dear, there's a magic land
        On the shores of a silver sea;
     And there is a boat with turquoise sails—
        With sails that are wide and free;
     A boat that is whirling through the spray,
        That is coming for you and me!

     Somewhere, dear, there's a singing breeze
        That creeps through the laughing air
     To the wide-flung boughs of a blue-black tree—
        It touches your joyous hair;
     And the touch of it is as soft and light
        As a baby's lisping prayer.

     Somewhere, dear, there's a bit of beach
        Where the sand is warm and white;
     Where the sky seems close and the drifting clouds
        Are tenderly, warmly bright.
     And there is a ship with turquoise sails,
        With sails like a living light!

     Ah, the ship is bringing us dreams come true,
        And hopes that are all dew-kissed;
     It is bringing us days that are all aglow
        With scarlet and amethyst;...
     Bringing us faith to find our way
        Through a world that is wrapped in mist.

     Our window looks on the city street,
        We can glimpse the city sky;
     But our hearts are gay at the close of day,
        Though the tired crowds pass by
     With heavy feet through the blinding heat,
        Like a sullen, sluggish tide....
     For hand in hand through a magic land.
        We are wandering side by side.