San Francisco Memoirs

Earthquake!

Crack in the street following the 1906 San Francisco earthquake
Three days, three nights, three fearful days

Of death, of flame, of dynamite,

Of God’s house thrown a thousand ways;

Blown east by day, blown west by night—

By night? There was no night. Nay, Nay.

The ghoulish flame lit nights that lay

Crouched down between this first, last day!

I say those nights were burned away!

Joaquin Miller,
Sunset Magazine, June-July 1906