| Edmund Clarence Stedman, ed. (1833–1908). An American Anthology, 1787–1900. 1900. |
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| 1507. In Mexico |
| | | By Evaleen Stein |
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| THE CACTUS towers, straight and tall, | |
| Through fallow fields of chapparal; | |
| And here and there, in paths apart, | |
| A dusky peon guides his cart, | |
| And yokes of oxen journey slow, | 5 |
| In Mexico. | |
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| And oft some distant thinkling tells | |
| Of muleteers, with wagon bells | |
| That jangle sweet across the maize, | |
| And green agave stalks that raise | 10 |
| Rich spires of blossoms, row on row, | |
| In Mexico. | |
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| Upon the whitened city walls | |
| The golden sunshine softly falls, | |
| On archways set with orange trees, | 15 |
| On paven courts and balconies | |
| Where trailing vines toss to and fro, | |
| In Mexico. | |
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| And patient little donkeys fare | |
| With laden saddle-bags, and bear | 20 |
| Through narrow ways quaint water-jars | |
| Wreathed round with waxen lily stars | |
| And scarlet poppy-buds that blow, | |
| In Mexico. | |
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| When twilight falls, more near and clear | 25 |
| The tender southern skies appear, | |
| And down green slopes of blooming limes | |
| Come cascades of cathedral chimes; | |
| And prayerful figures worship low, | |
| In Mexico. | 30 |
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| A land of lutes and witching tones, | |
| Of silver, onyx, opal stones; | |
| A lazy land, wherein all seems | |
| Enchanted into endless dreams; | |
| And never any need they know, | 35 |
| In Mexico, | |
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| Of life’s unquiet, swift advance; | |
| But slipped into such gracious trance, | |
| The restless world speeds on, unfelt, | |
| Unheeded, as by those who dwelt | 40 |
| In olden ages, long ago, | |
| In Mexico. | |
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