Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, TO JAMES WHITCOMB RILEY; ON HIS 'BOOK OF JOYOUS CHILDREN', by HENRY VAN DYKE



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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

TO JAMES WHITCOMB RILEY; ON HIS 'BOOK OF JOYOUS CHILDREN', by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Yours is a garden of old-fashioned flowers
Last Line: You keep close to the human heart.
Alternate Author Name(s): Civis Americanus
Subject(s): Poetry & Poets; Riley, James Whitcomb (1849-1916)


YOURS is a garden of old-fashioned flowers;
Joyous children delight to play there;
Weary men find rest in its bowers,
Watching the lingering light of day there.

Old-time tunes and young love-laughter
Ripple and run among the roses;
Memory's echoes, murmuring after,
Fill the dusk when the long day closes.

Simple songs with a cadence olden --
These you learned in the Forest of Arden:
Friendly flowers with hearts all golden --
These you borrowed from Eden's garden.

This is the reason why all men love you;
Truth to life is the finest art:
Other poets may soar above you --
You keep close to the human heart.





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