Solitude

ELLA WHEELER WILCOX

(Born November 5, 1855; Died Oct. 30, 1919)

Laugh, and the world laughs with you;
Weep, and you weep alone.

For the sad old earth must borrow its mirth,
But has trouble enough of its own.

Sing, and the hills will answer;

Sigh, it is lost on the air.

The echoes bound to a joyful sound,
But shrink from voicing care.

Rejoice, and men will seek you;
Grieve, and they turn and go.
They want full measure of all your pleasure,
But they do not need your woe.
Be glad, and your friends are many;
Be sad, and you lose them all.

There are none to decline your nectared wine,
But alone you must drink life's gall.

Feast, and your halls are crowded;
Fast, and the world goes by.
Succeed and give, and it helps you "ve,
But no man can help you die.
There is room in the halls of pleasure
For a long and lordly train,
But one by one we must all file on
Through the narrow aisles of pain.

Reprinted from "Poems of Passion" by Ella Wheeler Wilcox. By special permission W. B. Conkey Company, Hammond, Ind.

Knee-Deep in June

JAMES WHITCOMB RILEY

"On an early day in a memorable October, Reuben A. Riley and his wife, Elizabeth Marine Riley, rejoiced over the birth of their second son. They called him James Whitcomb

From "The Complete Works of James Whitcomb Riley" Bobbs-Merrill Company (in 6 volumes.) Mr. Riley always replies when asked the direct question as to his age, "I am this side of forty." Oct. 7, 1853, is the generally accepted date of his birth.

(Died July 22, 1916)

what I like the best-
'Long about knee-deep in June,
'Bout the time strawberries melts
On the vine, some afternoon
Like to jes' git out and rest,

And not work at nothin' else!

Orchard's where I'd ruther be—
Needn't fence it in fer me!-

Jes' the whole sky overhead,
And the whole airth underneath-
Sorto' so's a man kin breathe
Like he ort, and kindo' has
Elbow room to keerlessly

Sprawl out len'thways on the grass

Where the shadders thick and soft
As the kivvers on the bed

Mother fixes in the loft
Allus, when they's company!

Jes' a-sorto' lazin' there

S'lazy, 'at you peek and peer
Through the wavin' leaves above,
Like a feller 'at's in love

And don't know it, ner don't keer!
Ever'thing you hear and see

Got some sorto' interest-
Maybe find a bluebird's nest
Tucked up there conveenently
Fer the boy 'at 's ap' to be
Up some other apple-tree!
Watch the swallers skootin' past
'Bout as peert as you could ast;

Er the Bob-white raise and whiz
Where some other's whistle is.

Ketch a shadder down below,
And look up to find the crow-
Er a hawk-away up there,
'Peerantly froze in the air!-

Hear the old hen squawk, and squat
Over ever' chick she's got,
Suddent-like-and she knows where
That-air hawk is, well as you!-
You jes' bet yer life she do!-
Eyes a-glitterin' like glass,
Waitin' till he makes a pass!

Pee-wees' singin', to express
My opinion, 's second class,
Yit you'll hear 'em more er less;
Sapsucks gittin' down to biz,
Weedin' out the lonesomeness;
Mr. Bluejay, full o' sass,

In them base-ball clothes o' his,
Sportin' round the orchard jes'
Like he owned the premises!

Sun out in the fields kin sizz,
But flat on yer back, I guess,

In the shade 's where glory is!
That's jes' what I'd like to do
Stiddy fer a year er two!

Plague! ef they ain't somepin' in
Work 'at kindo' goes ag'in

My convictions!-'long about
Here in June especially!-
Under some old apple-tree,

Jes' a-restin' through and through,

I could git along without

Nothin' else at all to do

Only jes' a-wishin' you

Wuz a-gittin' there like me,
And June was eternity!

Lay out there and try to see

Jes' how lazy you kin be!

Tumble round and souse yer head
In the clover-bloom, er pull
Yer straw hat acrost yer eyes
And peek through it at the skies,
Thinkin' of old chums 'at 's dead,
Maybe smilin' back at you

I' betwixt the beautiful

Clouds o' gold and white and blue!Month a man kin railly love—

June, you know, I'm talkin' of!

།

March aint never nothin' new!-
Aprile's altogether too

Brash fer me! and May-I jes'
'Bominate its promises,-
Little hints o' sunshine and
Green around the timber-land-
A few promises, and a few
Chip-birds, and a sprout er two,-
Drap asleep, and it turns in

'Fore daylight and snows ag'in!—

But when June comes- Clear my throat
With wild honey!-Rench my hair
In the dew! and hold my coat!

Whoop out loud! and throw my
June wants me, and I'm to spare!
Spread them shadders anywhere,
I'll git down and waller there,

And obleeged to you at that!

hat!

Master of human destinies am I.

Fame, love, and fortune on my footsteps wait,
Cities and fields I walk; I penetrate
Deserts and seas remote, and, passing by
Hovel, and mart, and palace, soon or late
I knock unbidden once at every gate!
If sleeping, wake-if feasting, rise before
I turn away. It is the hour of fate,
And they who follow me reach every state
Mortals desire, and conquer every foe
Save death; but those who doubt or hesitate,
Condemned to failure, penury and woe,
Seek me in vain and uselessly implore-
I answer not, and I return no more.

I stay my haste, I make delays-
For what avails this eager pace?
I stand amid the eternal ways
And what is mine shall know my face.

Asleep, awake, by night or day,

The friends I seek are seeking me, No wind can drive my bark astray Nor change the tide of destiny.

What matter if I stand alone?

I wait with joy the coming years; My heart shall reap where it has sown, And garner up its fruit of tears.

The waters know their own, and draw
The brook that springs in yonder height;
So flows the good with equal law
Unto the soul of pure delight.

The stars come nightly to the sky;
The tidal wave unto the sea;

Nor time, nor space, nor deep, nor high,
Can keep my own away from me.