The Congo, and Other Poems

audiobook

The Congo, and Other Poems

by Vachel Lindsay

EN·~1 hours·60 chapters

Chapters

60 total
1

THE CONGO AND OTHER POEMS

0:01
2

By Vachel Lindsay - [Nicholas Vachel Lindsay, Illinois Artist. 1879-1931.]

1:17
3

THE CONGO AND OTHER POEMS

0:01
4

Introduction. By Harriet Monroe

7:07
5

First Section ~~ Poems intended to be read aloud, or chanted.

0:03
6

The Congo - A Study of the Negro Race

9:01
7

The Santa Fe Trail

8:05
8

The Firemen's Ball

7:36
9

The Master of the Dance

4:23
10

The Mysterious Cat

0:57

Description

The collection invites listeners into a living, half‑sung lyric that harks back to Greek choruses and early American vaudeville. Its creator believed poetry should sound as much as it should be read, encouraging each line to find its own melody when spoken aloud. The accompanying notes explain how the verses are meant to be performed, turning every reading into a small, improvisational concert.

Across the pages you’ll hear bustling Midwestern scenes, moonlit reveries, and a vivid, rhythmic piece set on an African river that captures both danger and wonder. The poet’s clear, earthy language and occasional musical directions make the work feel immediate and communal. Listening to these poems feels like joining an intimate gathering where the audience helps shape the song of the words.

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Details

Language

en

Duration

~1 hours (105K characters)

Release date

1997-08-01

Rights

Public domain in the USA.

About the author

Vachel Lindsay

Vachel Lindsay

1879–1931

An energetic American poet and performer, he helped make poetry feel like something heard as much as read. Best known for vivid, rhythmic pieces such as "The Congo," he brought chant, music, and public recitation into modern literary life.

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