This week’s Tuesday Poem – ‘The Flower-Fed Buffaloes’ – is from American Midwest poet Vachel Lindsay (1879-1931). Known for his performance poetry (see the fabulous photograph of him performing, below) and the pronounced musical qualities that attended his poetry, Lindsay was attributed, in the early 20th century, the title of the ‘Prairie Troubadour’ – the granting of which he took very seriously. He was known to travel on foot, trading his poetry – performances and pamphlets – for food and lodging. I really admire the lyrical, musical phrasing of Lindsay’s poetry, and I equally admire his concerted passion for, and remarkable dedication to, his craft. With ‘The Flower-Fed Buffaloes’, I particularly love the concluding few lines with the repetition that adds such pathos, such lamenting to the state of the native beasts.
The Flower-Fed Buffaloes
The flower-fed buffaloes of the spring
In the days of long ago,
Ranged where the locomotives sing
And the prairie flowers lie low: -
The tossing, blooming, perfumed grass
Is swept away by the wheat,
Wheels and wheels and wheels spin by
In the spring that still is sweet.
But the flower-fed buffaloes of the spring
Left us, long ago.
They gore no more, they bellow no more,
They trundle around the hills no more: -
With the Blackfeet, lying low,
With the Pawnees, lying low,
Lying low.
If you are in the mood for poetry this Tuesday, don’t miss out on the rest of the Tuesday Poems at the hub, there are some crackers this week. I am away in Italy for two weeks, so there will be a bit of an absence from blogging, but I will be back with another Tuesday Poem later in the month. Happy poetry reading until then!
June 5, 2012 at 2:49 am
Haven’t read any Vachel Lindsay for a very long time Elizabeth – thanks for the reminder.
June 6, 2012 at 8:27 pm
Yes, Lindsay is one of those ‘outliers’ that slips your mind. I hope you enjoy reading some more of his rhythmic, American prairie verse, Kathleen – he is worth dipping back into
June 5, 2012 at 12:41 pm
I enjoyed this poem and the way he uses repetition as part of the poem’s rhythm.
June 6, 2012 at 8:29 pm
Hi Helen – yes, repetition can sometimes be a bit grating, I find, but Lindsay evokes it with such a light touch here – it seems so natural and, as you said, so seamlessly integrated into the rhythm. Thanks for popping by!
June 5, 2012 at 9:07 pm
A beautiful lament for the buffaloes the natural herbage and the Indians who lived there…such a sad thing to be replaced by wheels. What a great photo of Vachel. What a dedicated poet.
June 6, 2012 at 8:32 pm
I agree, Helen – it is such a sad shift that he documents in this particular poem. I imagine, as he travelled with his poetry, that he was particularly aware of the subtle developments in technology and the gradual loss of the buffaloes. I love the photo, too – what a performer
June 5, 2012 at 10:40 pm
A sad poem – but such style –
Hope you enjoy Italy – will look forward to your return
June 6, 2012 at 8:36 pm
Thanks for popping by, Alicia – isn’t Vachel wonderful? Such a pitying lament, I agree, but I imagine he drew a lot of attention to the plight through his poetry performances. I am really looking forward to Italy, but I shall miss a couple of weeks without my weekly dose of Tuesday Poems!
June 9, 2012 at 12:07 am
Fantastic. What a treat it must have been to hear the “Prairie Troubador” chant this himself. It’s a simple poem that packs a punch. Thanks for posting this, Elizabeth.