The Complete Works of James Whitcomb Riley in ten volumes |
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HIS HEART OF CONSTANT YOUTH |
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 | The Complete Works of James Whitcomb Riley |  |
1994
HIS HEART OF CONSTANT YOUTH
And I never hear the drums beat
that I do not think of him.
—Major Charles L. Holstein
that I do not think of him.
—Major Charles L. Holstein
Turn through his life, each word and deed
Now sacred as it is—
How helped and soothed we are to read
A history like his!
Now sacred as it is—
How helped and soothed we are to read
A history like his!
To turn the years, in far review,
And find him—as To-day—
In orchard-lands of bloom and dew
Again a boy at play:
And find him—as To-day—
In orchard-lands of bloom and dew
Again a boy at play:
The jeweled grass—the sumptuous trees
And flower and fragrance there,
With song of birds and drone of bees
And Spring-time everywhere:
And flower and fragrance there,
With song of birds and drone of bees
And Spring-time everywhere:
Turn any chapter that we will,
Read any page, in sooth,
We find his glad heart owning still
The freshness of his youth.
Read any page, in sooth,
We find his glad heart owning still
The freshness of his youth.
1995
With such a heart of tender care
He loved his own, and thus
His home was, to the loved ones there,
A temple glorious.
He loved his own, and thus
His home was, to the loved ones there,
A temple glorious.
And, ever youthful, still his love
Enshrined, all manifold,
The people—all the poor thereof,
The helpless and the old.
Enshrined, all manifold,
The people—all the poor thereof,
The helpless and the old.
And little children—Ah! to them
His love was as the sun
Wrought in a magic diadem
That crowned them, every one.
His love was as the sun
Wrought in a magic diadem
That crowned them, every one.
And ever young his reverence for
The laws: like morning-dew
He shone as counsel, orator,
And clear logician, too.
The laws: like morning-dew
He shone as counsel, orator,
And clear logician, too.
And, as a boy, his gallant soul
Made answer to the trill
Of battle-trumpet and the roll
Of drums that echo still:
Made answer to the trill
Of battle-trumpet and the roll
Of drums that echo still:
His comrades—as his country, dear—
They knew, and ever knew
That buoyant, boyish love, sincere
As truth itself is true:
They knew, and ever knew
That buoyant, boyish love, sincere
As truth itself is true:
1996
He marched with them, in tireless tramp—
Laughed, cheered and lifted up
The battle-chorus, and in camp
Shared blanket, pipe and cup.
Laughed, cheered and lifted up
The battle-chorus, and in camp
Shared blanket, pipe and cup.
His comrades! ... When you meet again,
In anguish though you bow,
Remember how he loved you then,
And how he loves you now.
In anguish though you bow,
Remember how he loved you then,
And how he loves you now.
| The Complete Works of James Whitcomb Riley | |