Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, CLOSE THE BOOK, by JAMES WHITCOMB RILEY


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

CLOSE THE BOOK, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Close the book, and leave the tale
Last Line: To relate the rest.
Alternate Author Name(s): Johnson Of Boone, Benj. F.
Subject(s): Books; Reading


CLOSE the book, and leave the tale
All unfinished. It is best:
Brighter fancy will not fail
To relate the rest.

We have read it on and on,
Till each character, in sooth,
By the master-touches drawn,
Is a living truth.

Leave it so, and let us sit,
With the volume laid away --
Cut no other leaf of it,
But as Fancy may. --

Then the friends that we have met
In its pages will endure,
And the villain, even yet,
May be white and pure.

Close the book, and leave the tale
All unfinished. It is best:
Brighter fancy will not fail
To relate the rest.





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