NEW ORLEANS
Right in the river's mouth
You proudly took your place,
The cities of the South,
The greatest of your race.
Your arms you circled round
And lovingly embrace,
But you don't like the sound
Of kisses on your face.
The city of my birth;
My first breath in your heart;
The place to me on earth
Where light of day was brought.
Here all my childhood spent
Amid your rush and din;
As business came and went,
My spirit leaped within.
I've seen your buildings rise,
Your homes and churches too;
Have watched your growing size,
As year on year you grew.
I've seen your lazy limbs
Go stretching here and there,
Embracing in your rims
All that is good and fair.
I've seen this face and form,
Familiar to the place,
And then in great alarm
I've heard he's lost the race,
You proudly took your place,
The cities of the South,
The greatest of your race.
Your arms you circled round
And lovingly embrace,
But you don't like the sound
Of kisses on your face.
The city of my birth;
My first breath in your heart;
The place to me on earth
Where light of day was brought.
Here all my childhood spent
Amid your rush and din;
As business came and went,
My spirit leaped within.
I've seen your buildings rise,
Your homes and churches too;
Have watched your growing size,
As year on year you grew.
I've seen your lazy limbs
Go stretching here and there,
Embracing in your rims
All that is good and fair.
I've seen this face and form,
Familiar to the place,
And then in great alarm
I've heard he's lost the race,
[7]
