The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-03-04
A REpENTANT PoErEss.
An Earthqake Dislodyes Poetic Prodnet OF q
Woman's Excited Inns ginstion.

W OAi4u fsAS4itu
A few DAYS ago the editor of the EAGLE
received the following letter aud poem
from lady of SHADY Nook" signing her
self Ann OWL which are self explanat-
ing. Here they are:
DEAR Mr.. MURDoCK:-Iu September
1889, you remember Il hea convention set
In your city, to which you did not take
very kindly. Indeed the screams of the
Wichita EAGLE, during those days. pene-
trated my usually peaceful abode. and
kindied in my heart a resentment that
found expression IN the accompanying
poem.
Meath a shady bower, by the light of
the harvest moon [ penned thess lines,
that TO my excited Imagination. con-
demned you 10 that oblivion so richly
merited. With the lapse of time the poem
and the yexation that inspired 1t were for
gotten, until a recent earthquake dis
lodged the manuscript from its long seclu-
sion and held il up before my blinking
eyes. Believing from this circumstance
tnat the fates decreed you should see the
poem | herewith sent it for your perusal
before consigning il to that oblivion to
which it is doomed.
Yours without hate. ANN OWL
A city fair once grew apace,
The Peerless Princes of the Plains,
Within her walls. lordly race
Made life one song of glad refrains.
And one was greater than the rest.
valient knight long known to fame,
He graced each feast. the honored guest,
And Marshall Murdoch WIS his name.
Now Marshall ruled mighty host,
His kingly scepter was his pen,
And naught could still the naughty boast
That long proclaimed him, kiEg OF men.
Quite lofty grew this king of kings,
And, that his vision might be clear,
He took the EAGLES clOud-tipped wings
And scared above this earthly sphere.
Among the clouds he dipped and scared,
Or, fioated through the realms OF space,
And often great libations poured
To tighten earth's benighted face.
Below, cheering multitude,
Made glad the echoes of the plains,
And quite complacenrly he viewed
The sun-kissed land of his domains.
But what is that far in the east?
a cloud no longer than your hand;
OF earthly things tbs not the least,
"Tis just a little female band.
Across the plains they swiftly come,
And now the EAGLE tunes his Tyre;
Invokes the thunders awful hum
And belches forth stream Of fire.
Wis all in vain, they journey on,
The even tenor of their way
Is not disturbed by such renown
As lightning, from this bird OF prey.
Beyond the dew-kissed meadow-lands;
Beyond she shadows of the Kaw,
Until they reach the shining sands,
Whereon is builded Wichita.
And now We gods, of olden times,
That looked upon the scenes of Troy
Give ear once more to war-like chimes
And see how Mars doth weep for joy.
"The hens. The hens.' The EAGLE cries,
THE hens are iocking from the plains"
And from his eyrie in tie skies,
He swoops 10 scatter their remains.
But when to earth, this kingly bird
Had iuttered, from his high estate,
He found battle he'd incurred
And most absurdly tempted fate.
A charge is ordered; at the call
They pounce upon his royal pate,
And fall to plucking. one and all,
The plumage from this bird of state.
The battle wages fierce and long,
The air grows thick and the feathers fly.
And far above the battle song.
Is heard the EAGLES mournful cry.
And when the first fierce charge was done
And dust and smoke had cleared away
Behold, instead of victory won.
\ roaring lion set at bay.
He CRASHED his teeth and dashed his tail,
The hills gave back his awful roar;
While from the plains DER hill and dale
The hens were fiOcking by the score.
North, south and east, one darkwinged
cloud,
Seemed now to compass him around
"Oh, for those wings, once great and proud
To bear me from this battle ground
He gazed across the glowing west,
There some bright vision seemed to call:
With mountain heights he grew impressed,
Thought he'd be safe behind a wall.
Then sad to tell, this beast of prey
Went bounding toward the setting sun,
While AL the hens sang out a lay
To see the mighty fallen run.
ANN OWL