TheDog.

Ofallthebeastsbeneaththesun

Thereisnoother,notaone,

Thatclingstomaninsweetandbitter

Asfaithfulasthecaninecritter.

Whenfortunesmilesuponitscrest

Andallyourtoilisrichlyblest

Theloyaldogisnearathand

Forslightestdutyorcommand.

Whenpovertycomesstalkingin

Andyouhavelostyourprecioustin,

Thegoodolddogisjustthesame

Indiredistressorglitteringfame.

Intatteredragsorspickandspan

Hehasatruerheartthanman,

Andwhenyoumeetmostkeendefeat

Hissympathyistheretogreet.

Whenyouareoldandhadyourday,

Withfeeblelimbsandheadofgray,

Andangelscometotakeyouhome,

Thegoodolddogislasttoroam.

He’llwatchbeneaththestarsatnight

Besideyourgraveasadfulsight,

Andwaitandwaitformanyaday,

Whenfadedflowershaveblownaway.

Adog’sgreatloveismostsublime,

Itlingersneartheworddivine,

Andintertwinesfromhimabove,

FordogturnedaroundisGodandlove.

TheBooze.

Ohtheoneswhodrinkthebooze,

Youcantellitbytheirflues,

Thetorridheatwithinflamesupthenose.

Atfirstthey’remoderatedrinkers,

Andbecomethesameasthinkers,

Andwhatasightforpityeretheclose.

Chorus.

Thebooze,thebooze,

Anywayyouchoose,

Nomatterhowyoufigureityoulose.

Howmanyhomesthatsuffer,

Whentheysheltersuchaduffer,

Whosepresencecausesheartaches,tearsandblows,

Butyoucanalwaystell’em

Ifyoucan’tthenyoucansmell’em,

Butifallthesignsshouldfailyouthere’sthenose.

Ifyouonlytakeadrop

Youknowyou’llneverstop,

Don’tyourealizethatdynamiteexplodes,

Bettertakeaninventory,

Beforeyou’reblown,nonottoglory,

Buttowheretheyignitequickly,JimmyRhodes.

What’sthematterwithyourclothes,

Ordoyouforartistspose,

Don’tyouevermeditateorthink

There’senoughloaminyourhair

Torobanacrebare,

Takeaninvoicebeforeanotherdrink.

Stop,myfriend,don’tbeaslave,

Donotfilladrunkard’sgrave,

Beamanfrombirthuntilclose,

Cometohim,theGalilean,

Hewillmakeyourfutureclean,

He’stheonetotaketheaddfromoffyournose.

What’stheDifference?

Itmattersnot,sosomefolkssay,

Wherereststheformwhen’neaththeclay.

Thereisnochoicewhentheheartisstill,

Somealwayssayandalwayswill.

Thismaybetruewhenwe’reforgot,

Andaughtremainstomarkthespot,

Butasilentstonethatstandsalltime,

Withletterscoldtotellmankind.

Somemaynotcarewhereresttheirbones,

Inforeignlandsorneartheirhomes,

Wheretenderheartscanshedthetear

Andbathetherosesonthebier.

I’dratherrest’neathshadytrees,

Thatbeautifyandkissthebreeze

Withvelvetgrassspreadovertheplot,

Withliliesandforget-me-not.

TheSteeringWheel.

’Twasapartyblitheandgay,

Onajoyrideastheysay,

Glidingmanymilesawayfromhome.

Midnightlongwasby

Theywerecominginonhigh

Whensuddenlytherewasanawfulmoan.

Thesteeringwheelwentwrong,thepaperssaid,

Onewasbadlyinjured,threeweredead.

Thesameoldstoryneatlywoveninatale,

Thesadnessofthescenebehindthevale,

Andnotalineorwordtomakeyouthink,

Whathadputthewheelupontheblink.

Theverdictofjury,sotheysay,

Saidthesteeringwheelwaslooseandhadtoomuchplay;

Butbychancesomepeoplelookingaround,

Somerealandnewerevidencewasfound,

’Tisevidenceyoufindandseldomfail

Ifyoulettheribbonbottletellthetale.

Sointhenameofjustice,asIfeel,

Whynotexoneratethewheel.

AsIstoodintheyardofourhightaxedhome,

Andfilledmylungswithpureozone,

Myeyewentwanderingfarandnigh,

AndIsawameadowlarkflittingby.

Heflewtoapostforamoment’srest,

Andgazedawhilebotheastandwest,

Andthensoaredon,goinghigherandhigher,

Tillheperchedwayuponthecourthousespire.

Fromabird’seyeviewofquaintrenown,

HesizedupthemodernJulesburgtown,

Thestandpipebuiltonthecourthousesquare,

Isanoldeyesorewitharecordrare.

Thepowerhousehidfromthepasserby

Mustbeenforeconomy,heatorpie?

Thecitysewer,electriclights,

Cementside-walksandhighschoolsites,

Waspicturesqueandnicetoheed,

Butsadfortheonethatheldthedeed.

Heraisedhisheadasheceasedtonote,

Andoutfromthedepthsofhisgoldenthroat

Hisvoicedidpealashesaidwithawhirr,

Suchhightaxes,Gee-whilaker.

TotheMrs.

Iamgoingtotakeakiss,

AndIknowit’snotamiss,

ButbeforeImissmykisses,

IwilltakethemfromtheMrs.

KissesfromthedearoldMrs.

Arethesweetestkindofkisses.

ButiftheMisseskisses,

ThentherewillbekissesMrs.

JustaslongasMrs.kisses,

There’snotroublewiththeMisses

ButlettheMisseskisses

Andsomething’sdoingMissesMrs.

Don’tProcrastinate.

Don’twaittilltomorrow,

Forjoyorsorrow,

Andmissthegoldentoday.

Foreveryminute,

Yourheart’snotinit,

There’ssomethingslippingaway.

’TwasJesuswhosaid,

’Erehisspiritfled,

OnthecrossatCalvary,

Thathewhohadhope,

Neednevergrope,

Forthebetterthingstobe.

Sodon’tneverworry,

Andfretandflurry,

Forthingsthat’snotforyou,

Buthammeraway,

Atlife’sforgetoday,

Forthingsthataregoodandtrue.

SisterMary.

Mary,Iknownotwho

Hasatruerheartthanyou.

Your’salifethatdoesexcell

Fordoingeverydutywell.

Inthisworldofwomankind

ApurerlifeIcouldn’tfind,

IfIlookedmylifetimethru,

Iwouldbringthecrowntoyou.

Iamproudtotellyou,dear,

Your’shasbeenalifeofcheer,

Whereeveryhardship,trialandsorrow,

Wassweetlymetbeforetomorrow.

MayGod’sblessingsweetlyrest,

Inalifesorichlyblessed

Withkindwordsandcheerfulness,

Foreveryheartthatknewdistress.

Yes.

’Twasunderneaththecolumbine,

Wheredeariesaidshewouldbemine,

Myheartrejoicedatthatgladword,

ThesweetestoneIeverheard.

I’vewonderedmanytimessincethen

Howonewordchangeslivesofmen,

Someitmakesandothersbreaks,

Andothersknowthey’vemademistakes.

Itgladdenssomeandsaddenssome,

Itopensupthewaytorum,

Itfillsthepen,thecellsofjails,

Itwagsthetonguewithmanytales.

Itfillsthelawyer’spursewithfees,

Itcrowdsthecourtswithquickdecrees,

Ittothedrugstoremanyguide,

Itfillsthegraveswithsuicide.

Itpullsthetriggerofthegun,

Itbreakstheheartofmanyaone,

Itcausespainwherejoyshouldbe,

Itfillsthehomewithmisery.

Itjoinstheshortuntothetall,

Itneverheedsoldwisdom’scall,

Itclaspsthehandsofslimandstout,

Andmakesamessbeyondadoubt.

Itbreaksthedishesonyourhead,

Itmakesyouwishthatyouweredead,

Itmixesfatherwiththeson,

Ithasnoendwhenoncebegun.

It’snorespecterofyourright,

Itgetsyououtatdeadofnight,

Itmakesitsscarsandmanyawhelt,

ItmakesyoucussT.Roosevelt.

ItmakestheIrishliketheDutch,

Theblackthebrownthesquawandsuch.

Itcausesifthetruthwouldtell,

Athingonearthyouallknowwell.

SowithallwisdomI’llconfess,

Beforeyoutacklethiswordyes,

HavetheseprofessionsupinG,

Lawyer,preacherandM.D.

TheLayoftheLastHen.

’Twasyesterdaythedeedwasdone,

Thatmademyheartfeellikeaton,

Whencruelfatehelditssway,

Androbbedmyhenofherlastlay.

Thesympathyswelledinmybreast,

Formyoldhensolongcaressed,

Whostoodbymeformanyyears,

Thrujoyandsorrow,mirthandtears.

Whentimeswerehardandcropswerelight,

Therewastomenosweetersight,

Togetthateggandletitmelt,

Underneathmygnawingpelt.

Thetariffneverworriedher

Shedidherdutyatoneper,

Wilson,TaftorRoosevelt,

Neverhadacauseshefelt.

Shebuiltthemuscleinmyarm,

Shepaidthetaxesonthefarm,

Shekeptthewolffromstrollingin,

SheclothedthekidsfromKatetoWin.

Shealwaysletthewholeworldknow,

Withjoyfulsonginrainorsnow,

Thatshe’dperformedadutyneat,

Thatmanhimselfhasneverbeat.

Icouldn’thelpit,I’llconfess,

Thetearsflowedfreely,moreorless,

Whenthatdearformwastenderlylaid,

Beneaththeelmtree’spleasantshade.

Here’stothehenuponthenest,

Thatkeepsthetable,fillstheguest,

Buildsupthesystem,ne’erregrets

Andbringsresultswhene’ershesets.

TheDearOldHod.

WhenI’velaboredhardallday,

Andthesupper’sclearedaway,

There’sajoybeforeInod,

WhenIloadmydearoldhod.

Asthesmokecurlsintheair,

Chasingfrommelife’sdullcare,

Icanleanfarbackandthink,

Andputtheworryontheblink.

Here’stothee,Missouricob,

Manyyearsuponthejob,

Your’samissionnotallbad,

Ifyoueasetheloadondad.

DearOldKate.

IknowIstayedalittlelate,

ThelasttimethatIcourtedKate,

IhadaspeechIwishedtotry,

Andhowthehourshurriedby.

ThequestionthatIwishedtopop,

Wouldneverletmehavetheflop,

Mycheekswouldburn,mythroatgetdry,

Iwasnearlyhotenoughtofry.

IguessItriedadozentimes,

Idrilledmyselfinallthelines,

ButwhenIreachedthevitalpoint,

Thewholeblameworksgotoutofjoint.

Itmadememadandalsosad,

Ifeltlikegoingtothebad,

I’dpractisedlong,outinthetrees,

Justhowtofaceheronmyknees.

I’dholdtheboughasKatie’shand,

Andwiththebestatmycommand,

I’dbaremysoulwithpleadingtears,

Forhertojoinmealltheyears.

IguessIneverwouldhavewon,

IfKatiehadn’tjustforfun

Heardmyappealwithsilentfeet,

Andsaid,“Why,sure,youdearoldsweet.”

Tim.

OnceIknewamannamedTim,

Thoughtamightylotofhim,

Forhisgoodness,heartandmind,

Wereofsuchalovingkind.

Neverheardhimboastortell,

Ofthethingshe’ddonesowell:

Lipswouldkindasetwithtension,

Ifhispastyou’dslightlymention.

Kindamadehisfacelooksad,

Maybesomegreatgriefhe’dhad,

Buthe’dpassitoffandsay,

Kindalookslikeraintoday.

Wasn’tmuchpastfifty-nine,

Ledalifesereneandfine,

Livedjustontheedgeoftown,

Likedtohavethefolkslookround.

Greatestchumoflittletads,

Likedtohumoralltheirfads,

Fixedtheirwagons,madethemtrains,

Soothedtheirmanycaresandpains.

MadenodifferencetoTim,

Ifyou’dneverheardofhim,

Hewouldalwayssay,“Hello,”

Saidhismothertaughthimso.

Worldlygoodshehadn’tmuch,

Neverseemedtocareforsuch,

SaidhelikedtheMaster’sway,

Ofdoingthingsforjusttoday.

DearoldTimtooksickonenight,

Thoughthisspiritwouldtakeflight,

Butwealljusthurriedin,

AndithelpedreviveoldTim.

Saiditmadehimawfulglad,

Wishedalargerhousehehad,

Butweallsaid,getwell,Tim,

Couldn’tloseamanlikehim.

TheBusinessMan.

Hereistothebusinessman,

Whodoestheverybesthecan,

Andpaystoeachtheirhonestdebt,

Anddon’tforgetitmakeshimsweat.

Helaborsfromthemorntillnight,

Withbrainandmuscleinthefight,

Tokeephisheadabovethestream,

Whenfinancesarenotserene.

He’stotheoneyoualwaysgo,

Whenlifehaspainedyouwithawoe,

Youknowhispurseisalwaysfree,

Tolessengrieformisery.

Youtossonhimmostcarelessly,

Thegratisjoboftowntrustee,

Andthenyoupassaroundtheword,

He’sjustthemanfortheschoolboard.

Hehelpstoschoolyourgirlsandboys,

Heshareswithyouyourpainsandjoys,

Hehelpstopaythepreacher’sbill,

Andaidsthechurcheswithgoodwill.

Hehastopayhisbillswhendue,

Butifheasksthesameofyou,

Youthinkyourcredit’smethisfears,

Andletitrunalongforyears.

Youlethimlongandlookandlook,

Atyouraccountuponthebook,

Andyou’lladmitifyouarefrank,

Hepaysyourinterestatthebank.

Ifhewouldsayandtellyoutrue,

Whenyouraccounthaslongbeendue,

Thattenpercentwaschargedtoyou,

You’dswearuntiltheairwasblue.

Ifhehelpsyou,thenwhynothim,

Anddon’tkeepsendingoffyourtin,

Butgiveittoyourhomemerchants,

Andkeeptheglossfromofftheirpants.

FallingSnow.

There’ssomethinginthefallingsnow,

Thatbringsbackyearsoflongago,

Thatmakesyouthinkofyoungerdays,

Behindaspan ofgallantbays.

Thefrostyair,therosydames,

Thesecretsandthelovingnames,

Ofdaysgonebylongyearsago,

Comesbacktodaywithfallingsnow.

Thelaughterpealedo’errocksandtrees,

Thesongsre-echoedwiththebreeze,

Ofmerryridessobrightandgay,

Arechasingthrumymindtoday.

Thebitingairwithkeendelight,

Putscrispnessintheappetite,

Andmother’spiesofgoldenhue,

Soonfadedlikethemorningdew.

AndhowIwishIcouldtoday,

Turnbacktheyearstheyouthfulway,

Anddrivethebaysandseethemgo,

Andblushwithyouthmidstfallingsnow.