| Harriet Monroe, ed. (1860–1936). Poetry: A Magazine of Verse. 1912–22. | | | | The Black Land | | By Joseph Warren Beach |
| | From “On the Land”
I WILL plough the land, | |
| Turning up the black soil. | |
| I will ride upon this heaving surface | |
| As a boat rides upon the water. | |
| Even as a boat | 5 |
| Cleaving the water with an eager keel, | |
| I have run a furrow | |
| Straight across the ridges. | |
| |
| I will sow down this field, | |
| Scattering gems. | 10 |
| With both hands will I scatter | |
| Quivering emeralds out of a bottomless pouch. | |
| |
| As I tread the loam | |
| My feet sink deep. | |
| The black earth embraces my ankles | 15 |
| And clings to my bent knees. | |
| |
| I sing as I go | |
| Scattering emeralds. | |
| The wind sings upon my lips, | |
| And pearls stream off my neck and forehead. | 20 |
| I am bathed in a sweat of pearls. | |
| |
| Eyes straight forward | |
| Rest on a brightening ultimate slope. | | | | |
|
|
