The Voice of California [pp. 655-658]

T7e SlVoice of Ca/iforiziia.
Tumult and glare!
Volcano, earthquake, or the Hour befalling?
From outer gloom I entered crystal air,
Heard ocean calling,
Saw cloudland mocking billowy tide,
My awful loneliness descried.
Though of my savage beauty half aware,
I felt but vague despair.
My fit ally,
The grizzly, that the red man calls undying,
Stood over me and looked into my eye
Of firm replying.
I saw my monstrous vulture swoop
Above the wolves in hurrying troop
Behind a plunging bison herd gone by,
Then but great empty sky.
I raised my head,
Beheld red shaman making incantation,
An old man Elemental Powers had bred
To change creation.
He turned to bird or dog or deer,
Could go and come or disappear.
Grim, painted warriors round a great fire led
Weird dance where shadows sped.
On elbow then,
And watching gulls their stout wings long uplifting,
I spied a junk with friar Buddhists ten,
Pass wrecked and drifting.
Long after came a caravel,
I saw the sailors meet, rebel,
And Cortez, singly, unawed even then,
Face his mad, cursing men!
I sat upright,
The peace was mine of olive orchards spreading;
Of thick, green branches gleaming yellow light,
Ere globed fruit shedding;
Of vines that, bubbling grapes, foretell
The beaded wine of cheery spell;
Of browsing sheep in meadows without blight;
And cattle bells at night.
Chant. taper, prayer;
Great roses Mission gardens overflowing,
With lilies of Saint Joseph clustered there,
Like pink dawn showing;
656
I I)ec.