THE METALS.
In the earth’s dark bosom
Long I slumbered deep,
Till the hardy miners
Woke me from my sleep.
Now I flash and glitter,
Now I’m bought and sold,
Everyone for me doth run,
For my name is Gold.
In jewels and money
I shine, I shine.
The great world of riches
Is mine, is mine.
Yet he who would live
For my sake alone,
Is poorer, more wretched
Than he who has none.
I, your sister, Silver,
Pure and fair and white,
I was made, like you, to give
Pleasure and delight.
Mines in Colorado,
And in far Peru,
Yield my shining whiteness up
The forks and spoons,
And the baby’s cup,
The plates that are set
Where the Queen doth sup,
The coffee and teapots,
The cream pitcher, too,
The money to buy them,
All show my hue.
I am Father Iron!
I am not a beauty,
But when called upon, you’ll find
I will do my duty.
Melted in the furnace,
I am wrought and cast,
Making now a tiny tack,
Now an engine vast.
The horseshoes, the boilers,
The stoves, the sinks,
The cable that holds
The good ship with its links,
The tongs and the poker,
The wire so fine,
The pickaxe and shovel,
Are mine, are mine.
Hail, my Father Iron!
I, your son, am Steel.
Heating and then cooling
With the silver’s brightness,
With the strength of iron,
Here I stand, a metal
All men may rely on.
I flash in the sword,
In the dagger keen;
In rails and in engines
My glint is seen.
The scissors, the needle,
The knife and the pen,
And many more things
I have given to men.
All together.
So, ever and ever, hand in hand,
We circle the earth with a four-fold band.
The servants of man so leal and true,
By day and by night his work we do.