#1912 #AmericanWriters #RhymesOfARollingStone
Up from the evil day Of wattle and of woad, Along man’s weary way Dark Pain has been the goad. Back from the age of stone,
For supper we had curried tripe. I washed the dishes, wound the clo… Then for awhile I smoked my pipe… Puff! Puff! We had no word of tal… The Misses sewed —a sober pair;
I have done with love and lust, I reck not for gold or fame; I await familiar dust These frail fingers to reclaim: Not for me the tiger flame.
Think not because you raise A gleaming sword, That you will win to praise Before the Lord. And though men hail you great
Somehow the skies don’t seem so bl… As they used to be; Blossoms have a fainter hue, Grass less green I see. There’s no twinkle in a star,
So now I take a bitter road Whereon no bourne I see, And wearily I lift the load That once I bore with glee. For me no more by sea or shore
Only a Leather Medal, hanging the… Dingy and frayed and faded, dusty… Yet of my humble treasures I valu… And I wouldn’t part with that med… Read the inscription: For Valour…
My poem may be yours indeed In melody and tone, If in its rhythm you can read A music of your own; If in its pale woof you can weave
Fearing that she might go one day With some fine fellow of her choic… I called her from her childish pla… And made a record of her voice. And now that she is truly gone,
In Paris on a morn of May I sent a radio transalantic To catch a steamer on the way, But oh the postal fuss was frantic… They sent me here, they sent me th…
Another day of toil and strife, Another page so white, Within that fateful Log of Life That I and all must write; Another page without a stain
Three gentlemen live close beside… A painter of pictures bizarre, A poet whose virtues might guide m… A singer who plays the guitar; And there on my lintel is Cupid;
In the Northland there were three Pukka Pliers of the pen; Two of them had Fame in fee And were loud and lusty men; By them like a shrimp was I —
Let others sing of gold and gear,… But oh, the days when I was poor,… When every dawn was like a gem, so… And I had but a single coat, and… When I would feast right royally…
I stood beside the silken rope, Five dollars in my hand, And waited in my patient hope To sit anear the Band, And hear the famous Louie play