O Printerman of sallow face, And look of absent guile, Is it the ‘copy’ on your ‘case’ That causes you to smile? Or is it some old treasure scrap You call from Memory’s file? “I fain would guess its mystery– For often I can trace A fellow dreamer’s history Whene’er it haunts the face; Your […]

Old man never had much to say– ‘Ceptin’ to Jim,– And Jim was the wildest boy he had– And the old man jes’ wrapped up in him! Never heerd him speak but once Er twice in my life,–and first time was When the army broke out, and Jim he went, The old man backin’ him, […]

Ah, friend of mine, how goes it Since you’ve taken you a mate?– Your smile, though, plainly shows it Is a very happy state! Dan Cupid’s necromancy! You must sit you down and dine, And lubricate your fancy With a glass or two of wine. And as you have “deserted,” As my other chums have […]

In the heart of June, love, You and I together, On from dawn till noon, love, Laughing with the weather; Blending both our souls, love, In the selfsame tune, Drinking all life holds, love, In the heart of June. In the heart of June, love, With its golden weather, Underneath the moon, love, You and […]

He puts the poem by, to say His eyes are not themselves to-day! A sudden glamour o’er his sight– A something vague, indefinite– An oft-recurring blur that blinds The printed meaning of the lines, And leaves the mind all dusk and dim In swimming darkness–strange to him! It is not childishness, I guess,– Yet something […]

It’s mighty good to git back to the old town, shore, Considerin’ I’ve be’n away twenty year and more. Sence I moved then to Kansas, of course I see a change, A-comin’ back, and notice things that’s new to me and strange; Especially at evening when yer new band-fellers meet, In fancy uniforms and all, […]

“He is my friend,” I said,– “Be patient!” Overhead The skies were drear and dim; And lo! the thought of him Smiled on my heart–and then The sun shone out again! “He is my friend!” The words Brought summer and the birds; And all my winter-time Thawed into running rhyme And rippled into song, Warm, […]

I Could I pour out the nectar the gods only can, I would fill up my glass to the brim And drink the success of the Traveling Man, And the house represented by him; And could I but tincture the glorious draught With his smiles, as I drank to him then, And the jokes he […]

You’ve a manner all so mellow, My old friend, That it cheers and warms a fellow, My old friend, Just to meet and greet you, and Feel the pressure of a hand That one may understand, My old friend. Though dimmed in youthful splendor, My old friend, Your smiles are still as tender, My old […]

Old John’s jes’ made o’ the commonest stuff– Old John Henry– He’s tough, I reckon,–but none too tough– Too tough though’s better than not enough! Says old John Henry. He does his best, and when his best’s bad, He don’t fret none, ner he don’t git sad– He simply ‘lows it’s the best he had: […]

Dan O’Sullivan: It’s your Lips have kissed “The Blarney,” sure!– To be trillin’ praise av me, Dhrippin’ swhate wid poethry!– Not that I’d not have ye sing– Don’t lave off for anything– Jusht be aisy whilst the fit Av me head shwells up to it! Dade and thrue, I’m not the man, Whilst yer singin’, […]

A word of Godspeed and good cheer To all on earth, or far or near, Or friend or foe, or thine or mine– In echo of the voice divine, Heard when the star bloomed forth and lit The world’s face, with God’s smile on it.

You in the hammock; and I, near by, Was trying to read, and to swing you, too; And the green of the sward was so kind to the eye, And the shade of the maples so cool and blue, That often I looked from the book to you To say as much, with a sigh. […]

Somebody’s sent a funny little valentine to me. It’s a bunch of baby-roses in a vase of filigree, And hovering above them–just as cute as he can be– Is a fairy Cupid tangled in a scarf of poetry. And the prankish little fellow looks so knowing in his glee, With his golden bow and arrow, […]

Abe Martin!–dad-burn his old picture! P’tends he’s a Brown County fixture– A kind of a comical mixture Of hoss-sense and no sense at all! His mouth, like his pipe, ‘s allus goin’, And his thoughts, like his whiskers, is flowin’, And what he don’t know ain’t wuth knowin’– From Genesis clean to baseball! The artist, […]

Herr Weiser!–Threescore years and ten,– A hale white rose of his countrymen, Transplanted here in the Hoosier loam, And blossomy as his German home– As blossomy and as pure and sweet As the cool green glen of his calm retreat, Far withdrawn from the noisy town Where trade goes clamoring up and down, Whose fret […]

Why did we meet long years of yore? And why did we strike hands and say “We will be friends and nothing more”; Why are we musing thus to-day? Because because was just because, And no one knew just why it was. Why did I say good-by to you? Why did I sail across the […]

‘Tis said old Santa Claus one time Told this joke on himself in rhyme: One Christmas, in the early din That ever leads the morning in, I heard the happy children shout In rapture at the toys turned out Of bulging little socks and shoes– A joy at which I could but choose To listen […]

Mother, O mother! forever I cry for you, Sing the old song I may never forget; Even in slumber I murmur and sigh for you.– Mother, O mother, Sing low, “Little brother, Sleep, for thy mother bends over thee yet!” Mother, O mother! the years are so lonely, Filled but with weariness, doubt and regret! […]

First she come to our house, Tommy run and hid; And Emily and Bob and me We cried jus’ like we did When Mother died,–and we all said ‘At we all wisht ‘at we was dead! And Nurse she couldn’t stop us; And Pa he tried and tried,– We sobbed and shook and wouldn’t look, […]