MOUNTAIN AND PRAIRIE MEET 93 
The sunflowers stand all night, here, keeping 
wakeful guard above the slumbrous poppies, 
their lamps all trimmed and burning and oil in 
their lamps. Not one foolish virgin in all this 
incalculable multitude. All lamps lit, all lamp- 
bearers awake and laughing in utter content and 
joyousness, and all shining lamps of yellow flame 
across the faces of the sleeping poppies spent 
with fatigue and lost in dreams. And at noon, 
sunflower and poppy, prairie and mountain, awake 
and well content and swooning not although the 
desert heat at the mountain’s base is torrid. 
When shall I forget these flowers of starlight 
and of sunlight swarming on the dreary plain? 
My prairie and my mountain, once again I 
greet you, and may I meet you and your sun 
and poppy flower where deserts swelter no more 
in fierce discontent, amidst the laughter of the 
running streams of heaven, meet you. 
