Back to California.
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Back to California, where the poppies smile and nod,
To the land of perfect beauty, where nature breaths of God;
From St. Francis at the Golden Gate,
Lake Tahoe 'mid the pines,
Mt. Shasta with her snowy peak,
To San Diego's mission chimes,
There is no land so bless'd with peace,
Or beauty bright and rare,
As California is to one
Who roved from her afar.
In distant countries, bleak and cold,
Where clouds rise black and storms are bold;
One hears no mocking-bird's gay trills,
Through all the night, o'er all the hills;
Nor quaint, sweet treble of the oreole
As he kisses his mate in the orchard there,
Near his little home swung high in air;
Nor sees bewitching violets peep
From rocky nooks and canyons deep;
Nor sees the baby-blue-eyes hue,
Just opened by the morning dew.
Back to California, where mariposa lillies mould,
And deck the the foot-hills in their robe
Of lilac, white and purest gold;
And purple larkspur, stately, brave,
Bows only to the breezy wave;
Where great magnolias rise like domes
The year around, in all its moods-
White, crystal blossoms in queenly poise
Guard entrance to our parks and homes.
Adieu vast sea a-West! Adieu cold North!
Again I will not venture East or South;
I ne'er will leave the land I love,
Tho' still I long the world to roam.
Farewell I cry! Farewell I wave!
Suffice when life is o'er, Fate will engrave
My name on California's shore,
In fair wild blossoms, golden hued,
Golden emblems of my Golden State.
To yon far lands, Adieu! Adieu the distant world!
Serene, the poppy flag I wave,
Gay emblem o'er the hills unfurled.
Laura Chambers White,
COPYRIGHT APPLIED FOR BY LAURA CHAMBERS WHITE.
PRINTED BY HARRINGTON-MC INNIS CO., OAKLAND, CAL,
