I cannot flap a flag

All that was best in us gladly we gave,Sprang from the rally, and leapt for the height.Smiling is Love in a foam of Spring flowers:Harden our hearts to him — on let us press!Oh, what a triumph and pride shall be ours!See where it beacons, the star of success!Cares seem to crowd on us —…

I kept thinking mighty sadly of the funny ways of Fate,And the lads who once were with me in the game.Poor boys, they’re down-and-outers, and there’s scarcely one to-dayCan show a dozen colors in his poke;And me, I’m still prospecting, old and battered, gaunt and gray,And I’m looking for a grub-stake, and I’m broke.I strolled…

I wore my fingers to the boneFor weary years.With stoic heart, for sordid goldIn patient painMy life and liberty I soldFor others gain.I scrimped and scraped, as cent by centMy savings grew;I found a faded shop for rent,Made it like new.Above the door the paint was dryWhere glowed my name:I waited there for folks to…

As in my grate it over-spillsWith dancing flames like daffodils.They flirt and frolic, twist and twine,The brassy fire-irons wink and shine. . . .Leap gold, you flamelets! Laugh and sing:An olive fire’s a lovely thing.An olive fire’s a household shrine:A crusty loaf, a jug of wine,An apple and a chunk of cheese –Oh I could…

While caroling a saucy song was Montreal Maree,With sozzled sourdoughs giving her a hand.When suddenly erupting in the gay and gilded hall,A stranger draped himself upon the bar;As in a voice like bedrock grit he hollered: ‘Drinks for all,’And casually lit a long cigar.He bore a battered stetson on the grizzle of his dome,And a…

The master reckoned him a fool,And gave him up in dull despair.When other lads were making hayYou’d find him loafing by the stream;He’d take a book and slip away,And just pretend to fish . . . and dream.His brothers passed him in the race;They climbed the hill and clutched the prize.He did not seem to…