Part 4
Isn’t it hard to drive back your feelings When therein shines a smile, For the one whom you love so dearly, And their life could mean you worth while.
But drive it back secret love, Into a day of darkness and rain, You hold the wrath of deep sighing, And to our hearts, you bring racking pain.
It hangs heavily on mind, And its stealing what nature has given. Oh! why does fate, with this bad omen Hold this torturing, in which we live?
THE BEE AND THE ROSE
Good bye, honey bee, you gathered from me Honey the whole summer long, But autumn’s here to take me home. Now I’ll lose the sound of your song, But go to your nest And dream of the past. When winter goes by Spring returns fast. Then I’ll return, too, And open my buds, Then the loving, tender breeze, With my fragrance will flood.
EASTER GREETING
(To my wife Ruby)
When I think of the day That we’re to part, It brings a deep sigh That weakens my heart.
Then it leaves my mind So roamsome and blue, For there’s my love In memory of you.
In the heart of these roses With their petals so gay Is my love most tender, With each breath they’ll spray.
Here’s solemn hopes With love so true, May these roses touch your heart Through and through.
And when their petals wither To blow on the breeze, Remember love is deeper Than any place in the seas.
A DIFFERENCE
We are strong in some things And weak in another; We are not all alike, There is a difference in brothers.
MILDRED AND MARIE
The night was still, No sounds could be heard, But soon came voices Sweet as a bird.
I arose from my bed To find who it could be. ’Twas my deceased sisters, Mildred and Marie.
Oh! how beautiful Was their golden wings, With music in their voices That the living can’t sing.
They told of the heavens So sweetly to me, And tell mother you were visited By Mildred and Marie.
LOVE DREAM
The rose of my life Were in bloom it seems, When I saw your face In my golden dreams.
It cleansed my thoughts So sweet and bright, I ne’er wanted to awake Out of my slumbers that night.
SADNESS
Oh! torturing sadness, why burden me now? Hide behind those unhappy thoughts that’s the cause of my broken vow, You build around me those death chilled walls, Leaving no sunshine in, But fate is the cause in letting me fall Deep into this untold sin.
But I’ll take you with a smile, It matters not where’er I be I’ll stand my ground like a man If you’re rough as the water of the mad rushing sea.
THERE MUST BE
When we lie down On our couch to rest, Our conscience must be clear To be heavenly blessed.
Then smile, oh gentle Savior, As you pass on into sleep, Then somewhere in slumber land You may holy creep.
There your sins are washed away, And replaced by golden wings, Oh, think what you’ll enjoy To hear the heaven’s choir sing.
Isn’t it hard to give Your heart and soul For the one you’d die to let live, When day by day they are growing cold.
MY DAILY PRAYER
Oh, Lord, teach me from day to day To dwell in the path Along the righteous way. Remove my thoughts Of riches and gold, For this so many Have traded their souls.
THE THOUGHT OF A HUSBAND
Each moment you frown You’re stealing from your life, And at times you break the heart Of a dear sweet wife.
One’s greatest fancy is a smile And love’s brightest way is hope, Then time’s golden entrance is patience.
Though the years to us may come and go, But out of my memory ne’er can flow The ring I gave you that spoke in silence For you it held you, but for me violence.
A wicked thought is easy bought, But values nothing in gold. So read this verse between times, And let righteousness into your soul.
MY LIKES
I like all nature’s beauty, I like to rove the wild wood, My heart likes to hold in its depth, I like only thoughts that are good.
True like the sun does shine, Aloud like the bells do ring, Joy like my heart loves, It likes a little song to sing.
Nice, like a sweet summer’s eve, Tender, like the breezes do blow, My heart likes to love some one, It likes a place to go.
Who likes a day of sorrow? Who likes untold, displeasure? My heart likes all happiness, And it likes a real full measure.
I like but a little company, I like but a little sight, My heart likes to be at ease, It likes to feel, what I write.
TO ALL
In your heart Let silence find a place, Then be guided by your conscience And you’re always safe.
UNACQUAINTED
I’d love to know Your real full name. ’Twould be pleasure to write Your beauty and fame.
I’d write on the value Of you in which I hold, Why it could ne’er be bought With Rockefeller’s gold.
Indeed you’re a blessing From the heavens above, And all would be bright If I had your love.
And while sweet breezes blow Over life’s rough way, I could sit and write your name In my humble essays.
A SMILE
Every smiling face, Or even jolly motions, Doesn’t prove that one’s sorrows Are not deeper than the ocean.
But there is great value, in a smile, It can save a poor man’s life, When I go home it’s worth while, For I meet a smiling wife.
MOTHER’S DAY
I received a flower On the twelfth of May, It was a token Of Mother’s day.
With petals snow-white And fragrance so sweet, Thou art my hope That in heaven we’ll meet.
My mind wandered back In a childish way My soul then reposed! But seemed to say:
Oh! the spirit spoke As I did pray, In the heart of this flower Shineth Mother’s day.
THE BIRDS THAT SING TO ME
All nature is happy this morning, Oh! how they welcome the beautiful sun, And those silver-throated fellows Gives music until the day is done.
They bring to my heart so sweetly A feeling I can hardly explain, That travels on the breezes so tender, With such a soothing refrain.
DREAM OF BYGONES
The peonies are in bloom, Their perfume I adore, Naught keeps me from dreaming Of you for evermore.
The night is bright, The dewdrops fall, The night birds sing With a distant call.
My heart then beats In throbbing pain, My eyes in tears, My soul is strained.
Come tell me, dear, If thy love’s dead, Come raise me then From sorrow’s bed.
WHENE’ER CONSCIENCE SPEAKS
Have you given this a thought, If you haven’t you really ought. This is what we all should know And we do wrong when we don’t go Whene’er conscience speaks.
Every man, woman, or child When nearing trouble or something vile, Should gently turn And never yearn Whene’er conscience speaks.
THE PLUCK OF A POET
For my little humble talent I turn thanks to our God. Though each time I try to show it I meet with the world of odds.
Though He blessed me with my gift, And He will bless me along the way, He is giving me love and wisdom And He will bring a brighter day.
These are words of a poor poet, And what I write is true, I long to go before the world To try and show what I can do.
If one could only see me now, My lips are numb, shows sorrow deep. This is after my daily labor That these thoughts through my mind does creep.
God gives me strength to work, To earn my daily bread, Then revives me for my writing To show that my blood is red.
Why swell up o’er talent Or activeness of brain? God giveth and he taketh As easy as it twinkles down rain.
LIFE PLAIN AS DAY
Life lays out its happiness and sorrows, You’re to choose either for to-day or to-morrow, We can be happy our whole life through In regarding our company and the things we do. Let the other fellow think what he will or may, I’ll choose happiness, it really pays. Life holds a beauty that shineth like gold, Seek it while you’re young, don’t wait to get old. Day by day it comes to us all, So fly not so high, remember your fall. One moment we’re up and the next we’re down, Try to take the ladder without a frown. For our lives are planned out with time and space And we are truly guided by an unseen face. The blossoms of life has petals so dear; Then deal with them gently and handle with care, There’s like the rose in the garden that blooms, That gives to the breeze their wafted perfume, But the way the frost makes its petals fly This teaches us that we all must die.
ONE SAD MORN
In a lonely little village Was the tolling of a bell. Deep in our hearts A sad story it tells.
Deceased our dear, old general Who fought with heart so brave, In honor of our land and country, And stars and stripes to save.
MY VIEW
A poor shabby boy; But an ambitious poet, And in most appealing way He’d love for the world to know it.
For now he sits and dreams Of which he can’t depart, And deep in his soul lies That beautiful hidden art.
God gives him the power And a clean mind to compose, He gathers beauties from an unseen garden, Where he dwells when his soul is reposed.
He has a high standard in thought As the richest man of the day, And wears a smile, though destitute For this is just his way.
THE FADING ROSES
Here lies the roses that’s fading away, With their memories of a brighter day; Just like the heat, are withering them dear, The loss of your love brings sorrow and care. These roses go back to nature’s review, They’ll regain their lives and bloom anew, But if my poor heart could be repaired With kindness of nature which roses are shared ’Twould remove all sorrow and enter sweet refrain Then my heart would bud and bloom again.
FOR A WHILE
Could there ever be a day That sorrow will cease and blow away, May it travel to parts to me unknown, That my heart have back a feeling of its own For a while.
My heart has never quit its pining, Each thought brings a silver lining, And if you were near ’Twould ease my care For a while.
No one knows why I sigh, It’s love in my heart that cannot die, Though now I regret But cannot forget For a while.
Now it seems like wasted years To intermix with my bitter tears, Though I’ve prayed to our God above That He may return my only love. For a while.
The beautiful stars in their glory Has ceased to tell love’s sweet story, They hide from me behind the clouds; Will some one love me if my head is bowed? For a while.
There’s nothing more beautiful than a smile If it’s really meant from the heart.
HEARTS THAT ARE TRUE
Love when young and tender Should pick its place to go; Beware of hearts that deceive For there, ’twill cease to grow.
Then hearts that are true Beat just as one, With a soulful tender feeling, Till love’s bright day is done.
Hearts that are true, And when they cross the river of Jordan To answer to their rights and wrongs, That sweet word love will be in golden letters And will be sung in a beautiful song.
MY LOVE FOR YOU
How can I forget What I have to regret When there in my dreams It just flows in streams And tells a story so true, That’s making me feel blue, Why it’s my love, my love for you.
Your eyes, with beauty so rare, No diamond could shine as fair. But I’ll watch and pray For that sweet day in May. So return your love anew, You have mine and it is all for you.
MY LOVE
My work for my race Will always be Tireless toil To make them proud of me.
Now if we all work To this one point, Strong will be our union, No nation could break the joint.
Just think! of all of us trying To make one another proud, Why the little stars in their glory Would almost speak aloud.
Then they’d shine brighter and brighter, And with love, they’d light the way, For the race that is loving to each other There is sure to come a better day.
EVE DROPPER
The rose that bloomed On veranda side, Heard love’s sweet story When first untied.
These hearts traveled Through the distant years, To join each other In their sighs and tears.
MY DEAR BELOVED MOTHER
Beside me walks an unseen face That guides me daily from place to place, And has love for me, like that of no other, This guide, tender guide, is my dear beloved mother.
She goes with me through rain or shine, Like the fortunate leads the unfortunate blind, And when I am lonely for a sister or brother, There’s the cheering thoughts of my dear beloved mother.
Of course she’s in the spirit land, But she walks with me daily hand in hand, And when I’m asleep she’s o’er my bed, That sin may go no farther. Now this teaches us of that mighty love We have in a dear beloved mother.
HIS LAST HOUR
Oh! mighty Savior, Cometh my last day, And the sound of the golden trumpet My sins bloweth away.
Glory to thy name As I breathe my last breath, Repenteth all whom love him now, Not at the door of death.
Each and every moment His name to me is all Those whom are standing by my dying bed, Remember the trumpet’s last call.
IF I DARE
I’ll sing a little song Of you dear one, ’Twill be long as the day And bright like the sun If I dare.
I’ll gather from the garden This big red rose To kiss your cheeks While sweet breezes blow If I dare.
Your face is ne’er out of my dreams Deep in my heart sweet memories bring, Oh! I will love you, dear, you only, Till death with bitterness bring If I dare.
My mind is with you Though my eyes are in tears, My heart is being pierced With Cupid’s golden spear, But yet I’d return If I dare.
Oh! how sad with you Were my past, The present was sweet So long as it lasts.
JUST NOW
No one knows, and no one sees, No one gives my heart any ease, Just now.
If I could speak to the one I love My heart would lose that feeling that makes me mourn like a dove, Just now.
Once you shadowed me in my dreams, But that, too, is gone it really seems, Just now.
The years are bringing my sorrow fast And my wakeful nights won’t come to their last, Just now.
THE VOICE OF A ROSE
The rose that spoke To her dying soul Is the rose ne’er let Our love grow cold.
With each breath She’d sigh and say, This rose tells me There’s a brighter day.
And when that rose Begins to die, She’d kiss its petals, Then tenderly cry.
A PHOTO
If I only had a photo Of my happy days To hang on this wall of misery, That’s weakening my better ways.
Oh! come, oh! gentle vision, Of long, long ago, And make that happy picture That I once use to know.
Paint those beautiful eyes, That did always shine And liven my trembling lips That they taught to speak words unkind.
Why my lips us to part With a loving, tender smile, But those days are stolen That meant me life worth while.
GOOD FATE
On a dark and stormy night Far ahead shined a little light, It was a warning With sorrow dawning, For the train that approached. Fastly into sight Towards the bridge that held ill fate The flagman awakened but a moment to late, For there flowed through a madly stream Lifting the bridge clear off its beam. All in a moment the engine ran out of steam And spying there ahead no light could be seen. Speaking to the fireman the engineer said, It’s a heavenly blessing our engine ran dead.
SPRINGTIME
The birds are singing While nature is bringing, All of its beauty to show. The little wild flowers With sunshine and showers Are the things that we love so.
They gladden our hearts And strengthen our souls, Making life seem young To those growing old.
There’s the beautiful budding Of the dogwood trees, It’s a shaking and waking For the little honey bees.
To let them know That nature brought back With a whole summer’s sweetness In her blossoms its packed.
MY HEAVENLY THOUGHTS
Oh! heavenly Father, To our souls give mirth, Let dwell with us no evil spirit While on this sinful earth. Strengthen our weak and humble minds, Through our hearts let righteousness flow, Keep us away from worldly things, For when Thou call we’re sure to go.
A POET’S PIER
A humble but ambitious poet That writes on the beauties of life, Is brilliantly guided onwards By the love of his dear sweet wife.
In each and every thought She is truly his golden pier. She leads him on to untold success Where he enjoys a brighter career.
Into a garden of roses Where soft breezes blow, There she’s always near him To let his sweeter thoughts flow.
To her he gathers and gives A beautiful big pink rose, To show that his love’s still burning, And for her it could ne’er repose.
And when he awakens out of his dreams There is music to her ears, For all the poems that he writes He reads to his wifey dear.
WELCOME SPRING
On comes spring With its loving breeze Soon there’s the budding Of the flowers and trees.
How my heart swells When they begin to peep, For I know they’re back From their long winter’s sleep.
MY RUBY MONTROSE
As I sit and dream On the water side, My mind is traveling Like the high rolling tide. No matter how fast Or where it goes With it my thoughts Of my Ruby Montrose.
No matter how dark And stormy the night, My mind still wanders By my strong lovelight Holding a secret That nobody knows, And guided by the thought Of my Ruby Montrose.
Now I’ve gained her love renown, The world will smile and cease to frown. The summer breeze that always blows Will refreshen the love of my Ruby Montrose. I ne’er grow tired of the words I write, They are my soul and my heart’s delight. They hold more sweetness than any flower that grows, For in them’s the thought of my Ruby Montrose.
BEAUTY AND UGLY
When beauty fades away Ugly approaches soon, But when ugly fades away Our place is lost beneath the moon.
THE BLESSING OF GOD
Close not thy door To the blessing of God, Just e’er be humble And spare the rod. And when you see a friend Downhearted and cold Longing for the warmth Of a spirited soul, Just open the heart. Though it may seem odd, But to you will come the blessings Of our own God. No link or links tighter ties Than those that are blending to the human lives, Quote this to memory to have and to hold, And liven up the spirit when you’re grown old, And when on earth you’re done Then you can rest beneath the sod, For your door was always open To the blessings of God.
SIXTY-ONE
Down on the southern plantation, From sixty-one on back Our forefathers were shackled in slavery, And lived in huts and shacks, But this shows they’re loyal Hum, a negro as you glance, But their grandsons are answering the roll call Somewhere in France.
A VISION FROM THE FIRESIDE
Before the fire at night When all was quite still, I had nature’s sweetest dream, And its beautiful old green hills.
Oh! that lovely photo, That appeared in the little blue blaze Showed summer with all its beauty And how the cattle used to graze.
Then came a sigh, Though followed by a smile, For the summer’s balmy breeze Made me feel like a child.
But dashed against the window The chilly howling winds That takes my vision in a snowdrift And how my heart does pine.
THORNY LOVE
There’s a vision of your well known face, Shining like my love that’s gone to waste. I see your smiles as natural now, And the way I loved you, for you taught me how. Now I’m in a path that usually leads Down to degradation. My poor heart bleeds When I think of our separation.
THE BATTLE OF HEARTS
Our hearts have met On the battlefield of love, Cupid is our general In his aeroplane above.
But my poor heart’s Crying for peace, My love for you Could ne’er decease.
And if fate guides the battle So our hearts doesn’t blend, Just picture how sad Will be the end.
TO REMIND YOU
Just a tender missive dear As the days are drifting by, And oh! I see your smiling face When e’er I look into the sky.
JUST TO REMIND YOU
Smiles always gladden my heart As the years come and go; And should I be the longest liver They’ll ne’er be buried beneath the snow.
One day of sorrow To a brilliant and happy mind Tears down its concrete thoughts To sail the ocean of brine.
THE SINKING SHIP
The winds howled o’er The dashing sea, The ship was foundered At half past three. The captain yelled, Life boats lowered! There was a noise Like a cannon roar, ’Twas the boilers burst below. Then said the captain Brave but slow, It’s too late, boys, We all must go.
SPRING’S EASTER LILY
(To my wife Ruby)
By the walk way grew Spring’s Easter lily Wet with the morning dew, But with love I gave to Billy.
Now there is your petals nice and yellow And rich as the dripping of gold. So why are you lonely, little fellow, You’ve won me, heart and soul.
Would you love to be a little present And one that isn’t silly To the sweetest little pheasant My dearest, darling Billy.
MY SHIP OF THOUGHTS
Anchored deep in mid ocean Are my ship of thoughts, I should sail out and get them, That’s just what I ought.
For once they run smooth With calmness of the sea, Bringing all of love’s beauty Back home to me.
In a mad rushing storm, But she would stand as brave, When each flash of lightning Showed the depth of her grave.
There’s no lighthouse To guide her in, Nor to raise her anchor From the wages of sin.
THE SOUL OF A BUD
A darling little maiden So sweet, so fair, With tiny dimples And beauty so rare, But I wonder if goodness knows If she e’er could repose.
From the sweet loving manner She gave me this rose, Now this tiny little bud Seems to whisper in my ear, Saying hearts of hearts with tenderness To one another are dear.
ONE’S NEXT BEST FRIEND
I was lost in the valley All veiled with fog, Back o’er the hill Was a howl of a dog. He was doing his bit In trying to keep peace, For his dear old master Had just deceased. In that old cabin Was a dear little child; The wolves rushed around Madly and wild. On came the morn, But I’d grown pale. The sun came up and Removed the veil. Then I jogged along O’er the bumpy ground, I stopped at this cabin And there I found A wonderful baby! With eyes so bright ’Twould light the way Through the darkest night. From under the bed Came a grunt of a hog, I knelt and found ’Twas that little dog.
CREATION