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.