The Song of the Motor Car

I’m the coy and ingenuous toy of the strenuous
Era of Civilized Man,
I’m the truly respectable, duly delectable
Outcome of project and plan;
And my gassy and thunderful, massy and wonderful
Shape splits the landscape in twain,
As I race where the fountain speaks grace to the mountain peaks—
Then over valley and plain.

drivingmountainpersonificationtechnologysoundtopography

Oh! it’s—“honk, honk-honk!”—is the song I sing
In the cool of the morning gray,
And it’s—“honk, honk-honk!”—is the raucous ring
Of my voice at the close of day;
And the echoes wake—and the echoes quake,
In their sylvan retreats afar;
For I am the fizzing, the buzzing, and whizzing,
Redoubtable Motor Car!

carsoundonomatopoeiaspeed

I’m the snappiest, pluckiest, happy-go-luckiest
Work of Man’s reckless career—
The machine of divinity green asininity
Never can conquer or steer;
And there’s never a note or bar honked by the Motor Car
Rounding an angle or curve,
But it cheats the pedestrian—beats the equestrian—
Out of his poise and his nerve.

cardrivingsoundpedestriananimal

For it’s—“honk, honk-honk!”—is the song I sing
In the blaze of the noonday bright,
And it’s—“honk, honk-honk!”—is the raucous ring
Of my voice in the starry night;
And the echoes quake and shiver and shake,
In their rocky retreats afar;
For I am the puffing, the chugging, and chuffing
And masterful Motor Car!

carsoundnight

Through the haze of the dreamiest days of the gleamiest
Summers I speed to and fro,
In the height of the glorious, mighty, uproarious
Tempest I come and I go;
I’m the tool and the servant, the cool and observant
Rare creature of project and plan,
And the coy and ingenuous toy of the strenuous
Era of Civilized Man.

metaphorsummertechnologywindpersonification

And it’s—“honk, honk-honk!”—is the song I sing
In the cool of the ev'ning’s hush.
And it’s—“honk, honk-honk!”—is the raucous ring
Of my voice in the morning’s blush;
And in the echoes wake—and the echoes shake,
In their woody retreats afar;
For I am the purring, the whizzing, and whirring
And marvelous Motor Car!

carsound