Elmhurst College - Elms Yearbook (Elmhurst, IL)

Page 19 text:

How quickly the ultra-violet rays Were snatched and annexed by the wretched thieves, By the frayed and withering petals and leaves, As sunward they rushed in a loving gaze ! The scent of the violet and the rose, It even tickled the tower-clock ' s nose And the swallow under the eaves. No color, no tint, no faintest hue. But made at once a brighter show ; And everywhere a vigorous glow. And there was many a startling view. The powerful onion leaped to his feet And so did the ultra-fiery beet And the carrot from down below. Just then with many a Gee ! and Ho ! The teamster hauled another load Of brick and sand. It overflowed On face and body, on limb and toe Of every tender plant and flow ' r That to this self-same noonday hour New life and beauty owed. Though angels retain their robes of white, Whatever the state of sky and sun, The ultra ray has yet begun To color the earthbound ghost and sprite With drapery of bluish haze, Of earthly eyes the wondering gaze With spirit-blue to stun. And visibly did the violet veil Contract into definite figure and shape Of ambling mantle and ample cape. He tried his best to look deathly pale. He shook his fist at teamster and team. At mortar and brick and sandy stream. From which there is no escape. However, his ultra-violent wrath. Subdued by the ultra-violet ray, At length to groans and sobs gave way. His tender wards along every path. As on the sand to this day appears, He bedewed with ultra-violet tears In sad and dismal survey. The clock struck one instead of thirteen. Curbing her love of idle talk. The spirit fled from the garden-walk And vanished behind a bluish screen. When sand and brick again were sown All over the garden, all hope had flown For flower and leaf and stalk. As the clock struck one, the sun resumed With joyful heart his westward way And conscious of a higher sway. The ancient garden indeed was doomed. But many a clock and many a flow ' r Henceforth will seek his healing pow ' r And bless the ultra ray. What neither clock nor sun could see. Is written over bricks and sands, Here shall of tender human plants A greenhouse and a garden be In ultra-ultra-violet glee. And when the spirit next appears, We ' ll dry his ultra-violet tears And turn his groans to chants.