P6 Poems DEC 21 1921 "Poems of Nature' Poems and songs, I love to write, They come to me both day and night; A?id if everyone would love to write the same as I, They would want to keep on living and never, nerer die. F. E. HEAD. Author. F. E. HEAD, Author C1A652939 «Vw • \ POEM Three 5F 1* \ The Old Home Over the hills and far away, To the dear old home of my boyhood day: Many hours I have played in the meadows green, Gathering flowers, and fishing- in the stream. You could hear the sound of the water mills, That run all day until the sun set below the western hills. You could hear the song of birds from morning until night. Until the day was gone and there was no light. At the farm house you could hear the dogs bark, And the whipporwill a singing after dark. Now those large forests are all cut away, And there is no place for the wild deer to stay. My dear old mother and father have gone to rest. Oh, they were the ones that I loved best. My sisters and brothers are gone from that cabin door, And it is very seldom that I see them any more. Those were the happiest days of all At the dear old home where the trees were so tall. There are many things that I could tell Of that dear old home that I loved so well. 4 i Four POEM POEM Five Springtime Spring, Spring 1 , the beautiful Spring, When it comes we hear the birds sing: Everyone seems so cheerful and gay, For the long Winter months have faded away. It is so nice to see the grass so green, And the people fishing along the little stream. The wild flowers are all in blow, How much nicer they look than the white snow. The children gather them as through the fields they run, For the Spring is here and the nice warm sun. The little bee lights on a flower and then flies away, It is gathering honey for a rainy day. The butterfly, with its golden wings, On the trees and bushes light, First on one and then another and soon is out of sight. The warm sunny days glide along so fast, It does not seem long and the Summer is past. Six POEM Greed for Gold While on earth he toiled and hoarded Every cent that he could make ; Had no time for earthly pleasures Or a day's vacation take. Had no eyes for Nature's beauty And the things that God had wrought, Only thought with greed and yearning Of the things that money bought. Money, money, yellow gold, He had wealth a thousand fold ; He had bonds, and farms, and houses, Wrung from others to be sold. But to this man with all his riches Came a day with blackest night, When he found, despite his gainings That his eyes had lost their sight. Did he turn then to God who gave him This great gift he had enjoyed ; Did he after this affliction Seek out those he had employed. Did he right his wrongs to others While his life to him was spared ? He had wealth enough and plenty That he could with others shared. Then to him as to all others Came the summons from on high The grim Reaper called upon him To lay down his wealth and die. To the land where he was going All his gold would count for naught. Well for him had he but heeded The blest things his bible taught. POEM Seven Nature Open your eyes and see the beauty Of the skies, the grass, the trees, Listen to the birds 7 sweet music And the murmur of the breeze. List to the brook's wild cadence As it seeks the water fall, Awake to Nature's beauty That surrounds us one and all. Leave dull care and daily worries Let them fare as how they will, While you take a little ramble 'er the grassy, rolling hill. Let your eyes search out the beauties Spread by Nature all around, From the blue arched sky above you To the flower studded ground. Every sound is one of sweetness To a Nature loving heart, Every insect, stone, and grass blade Of the Universe a part. Watch the little bird that soars, High into the heaven's blue, How he sings while upwards flitting On his tiny wings so true. Hear the bumble bee's dull humming As it lumbers o'er the flowers, See the oriole a swinging, In its tree before a shower. Listen to the wind's low murmur As it sighs among the trees, Listen to the gentle rustle As it stirs a million leaves. Hark to the voice of Nature In sunshine and in storm, Wish not for sunny weather When the rain comes softly down. For though you love the sunshine, We also need the rain, And as Summer follows ♦Springtime, So the sun will shine again. Eight POEM His Last Message O, just a moment, dear brother Will you take a message from me? Take it to my dear mother Far across the deep Blue Sea ; Tell her "that I fought bravely As long as I could stand, But when a bullet pierced my side I knew then I was going, To that happy land." Tell my mother, when you see her, Oh, tell her "not to weep," For my troubles will soon be over And I will go to that everlasting sleep. When last we parted, she kissed me goodbye And said "my boy, this will be the last time We will be together, you and I. Tell her ' ' to keep this message And not throw it away," It is the last one she will get from me For I have gone to stay. So, fare you well dear mother, I will never be again by your side, For I will be laid away across the sea so wide. And now, my dear brother, to you I '11 say goodbye, Hoping you will not follow the same as T. POEM Nine My Father's Boyhood Days Back to my old home where I first saw the light. Through the summer you could hear the song of birds And the whippoorwill at night. Far off in the woods you could hear the cow bell, And back of the house was the old stone well. At night you could hear the screech owls hoot, And many wild deers we would shoot. The rattler and blue racers crawling on the ground, You would see them in the woods and see them all around. Day after day through the woods I would roam, A-hunting and a-fishing far away from our home. Wild ducks and geese would fly over in big flocks, There was plenty of game — partridges and woodcocks. Many of wolves and bears you would see, And panthers alaying up in a crotch of a tree. Along the streams the kingfishers built their nests in the sand. And you could see the beavers building their dam. All kinds of wild berries on bushes and tree, And pretty wild flowers were as thick as could be. For miles we would go along the Indian trail, To trade our furs and get our mail. Those days were happy ones and pleasant to me, For I was raised in the forest, you see. Ten POEM POEM Eleven My Mother In her armchair slowly fading As the days so swiftly fly, Sits my own dear old mother With the reaper hovering- nigh. I can see that she is failing As she sits so patiently, Listening for the Angel whisper And I hear her gently sigh. Breaking hearts yon '11 leave behind you That will grieve forever more, But your trials will all be over When you reach that glistening shore. Your working days are over All toil and worry past, And you know there's one, dear Mother, That will love you till the last. There is in my heart a picture Of your face so sweet and fair, Not of twinkling eyes and dimples But of silvery, snow white hair ; Wrinkled hands so calmly folded Waiting for the end to come, Knowing that your days are numbered And your race is nearly run. Twelve POEM The Old Oak Tree There was an old oak that stood near our house by the road For years it stood up and faced the hard winds and held up its load. In sunshine, snow, rain and all kinds of storm, It swayed and it would twist but it kept its good form. How nice it was for travelers to stop under this tree and rest And the birds in this tree would build their nests. On hot Summer days people would stop there and set To cool off their body and dry up their sweat. My mother would sit there with me when she was quite young, And many old songs that she sung. Those songs now are all out of date, For I never have heard any of them of late. The blackbird and blue jay when they went south, Would light and rest in this tree on their way. It was a great place for cattle to stay And in under the shade of the tree they would lay. The lovers as they would take a walk, Would stop under this tree and talk. They are the ones that would miss it the most of all, For many girls have been kissed beneath this tree so tall. One day there came a big wind and blowed the tree down. The noble old tree laid its length on the ground. No more will we lay in your shade to keep off the heat, No more will we sit on the grass at your feet. Your limbs they are broken and your body is split, And no more in your shade will we sit. The people will long for your shade in vain, Your branches will never shelter us again. Now the old tree is gone, and it soon will decay, But we will not forget it for many a day. POEM Thirteen Farewell to the Farm My working days are through and over So I will quit the fields of clover ; And no more I will have to hire, For I will leave the old farm and retire. No more I will plough the fields and sow the seeds, Or cultivate the ground to kill the weeds. No more will I work in the hayfield For that is not so soft, A-drawing the hay and putting it up in the loft. No more will I milk the cows, In the morning or at night. Or run all over the country after them, When they are out of sight. I am a-quitting to move far away, And let some one else work the clay. The auto is a- waiting at the door, We will leave the old farm and bid it farewell. The place where for so many years we did dwell We are leaving the meadow and the long lane, And the little house that sheltered us, From the snow and the rain. The old-fashioned roses are all in blow, But we have sold the old home and we must go. And all our friends so good and kind, We are going away, leaving them behind. So I bid you goodbye old house and barn, And all of my friends and the dear old farm. Fourteen POEM Reveries As we sit by the fire-place On the old-time worn settee, And hear the branches creaking In the storm's wild melody, How our thoughts revert to childhood And the happy days gone by As we watch the roasting apples And the sparks that upward fly. Outside the snow is falling And the swaying, bending trees, Wear the snow-white cloak of Winter In the place of Spring's green leaves. Yet we heed not the coldness Of the W T inter 's chilling blast As we conjure up a vision Of the Summer days now past. In our dreams we see a picture Of a deep, dark, wooded dell ; And we hear the far off tinkle Of the petted leader's bell. To our ears there comes the murmur Of a slowly winding brook Then our fancy plans a picnic In a favored, quiet nook. Thus our truant thoughts will wander From the present to the past, Sighing for the joys of Summer While old Winter's speeding fast. Then the redly glowing embers And the whispering of the pines, Lure us from our musings From the past to present times. POEM Fifteen A Glimpse of the Forest There are beautiful flowers in the wild wood, That grow along with the grass so green ; You hear the birds a-singing In the trees along the stream. Wild berries in abundance they do grow, Along the little brook Where the foaming waters now. The blue birds and the thrush They will fly from brush to brush, You can hear their songs all day Until the sun light has faded all away. We will see the hawk; he's a bird that all despise. He is always watching with his sharp eyes. In times you will see him setting On the branch of some dead tree, He will sit there for hours through the day, Awaiting and a-watching for his prey. The woodpecker, he is always around And very easy is he to be found. He is a busy bird and his pecking can be heard As he pecks a hole in a tree, Until he is out of sight, you see. The mourning dove on some high limb will sit We can hear him coo and we are bound to see him too. Then, when the woods are dark the screech owl will appear And when you hear him hoot you will be in fear. The whip-poor-will is a noisy bird It is after dark when he is heard. He will sing all night with great delight. 0, how cruel it is to kill the birds, I love to hear their merry songs, As well as pleasant words. Sixteen POEM PQEtf Seventeen Night-time Softly the day is dying, And darkness gathers 'round, Covering earth with its mantle Coming without a sound. In the blue arched dome above us, One by one the stars peep out ; Birds in the trees are sleeping, There is silence all about, Far over the distant river, Appears a silvery space, A gleaming pathway of radiance As the moon man shows his face. Slowly the night advances, Then fades into the dawn; We wake with a feeling of gladness, To find that the night has gone. Day follows close on its footsteps, And as we take up our toil once more, Let us face it with honest endeavor Greater than ever before. Eighteen POEM The Journey of Life As you wander along through the journey of life, With all of your troubles, both gladness and strife, It's sunshine and storms, snow, hail and it's rain, It is pleasure and sadness and all kinds of pain. We find pleasure and happiness that comes with the years. And all kinds of trouble and sadness and tears. For this world is wide and full of trouble, And vou must be very careful or vou will make it double. You must be careful of what you say, Or you will be in trouble every day; But we will always try to be happy and go through the world With a smile : W r e will live for the ones that love us, For the ones we find worth while. AVe will live for the ones that are kind and true, For those that have proved themselves true blue ; And as we go through the valley of life, The good we will defend. Finding the most of our trouble is caused by ourselves, From the beginning to the end. POEM Nineteen "The Flowers ) i The flowers we find in our pathway, Have a duty, every one — As they open their bright hued petals. Each morning- to the sun. They teach us a wonderful story, They fill our hearts with love; They help us to be ever grateful, To our Heavenly Father above. If we but look around us, On the beauty that is ours, Our lives will be far brighter, Than the rainbow that follows showers. The birds, and bees, and blossoms, The mountains, rivers, and plains, Are all the work of the Master, As the towns are the children of brains. You may run your cars and factories And do a great many things; But you can't add an inch to your stature, Or stop the gentle rains. Without the help of our Maker, The great Omnipotant One, We are helpless as new born infants, Like mists before the sun. Let us all seek for wisdom And do our very best, To make this good world better, Before we are called to rest. Twenty POEM In the Jungle How would you like to live in a country, Where you'd hear the lions roar? In the diamond mines, with the Natives and the Boers, In the jungle with the elephant so large and strong, And the birds with their plumage so pretty and so long. When the sun is shining it is so terrible hot You will see the poisonous insects and the little Hotentot. Large serpents a hanging from the trees, And wild monkeys chattering with the little chimpanzees. In the waters crocodiles, five and ten abreast, some in single file. You will see them by the thousand in the stream we call the Nile. The Natives with their dark faces, with spears and arrows in their hands Make war with each other in this wild African land. And when you hear a gorrilla roar The chills will go through you by the score. You will think the sky is a going to fall. The trees will all tremble both the large and the small. Were you ever in the jungle and hear a lion roar? The first time that you heard them you would think, All your veins had bursted or your heart had ripped or tore. Y r ou can travel o'er the world, in all foreign lands, But when your in the jungle you have something on your hands. POEM Twenty-one Childhood's Treasure You ask me to tell you a story, At this glorious time of the year; To tell you in a few simple phrases, What is to the children most dear. To the romping, loving school boy, And our girls so sweet alway, To the very little children Just learning how to play. Is it books, balls, sled, skates, or mecanno, That to the boy gives keenest joy; What is it that holds the interest Of our manly earnest boy? Is it laces, ribbons, and bon-bons ; Dolls, danties, or chintzes gay, That fills the heart of our maidens From morn till close of day? What is it that pleases baby From dawn till setting sun, That beguiles the darling cherub, And turns every thing into fun? Now listen and I will tell you If you will come with me, And take a peep at the circle Gathered at Mother's knee. The faces of happy childhood Speak a language you can't forget As they turn their eyes towards Mother, Who has never failed them yet. Mother, their best and dearest, First in the hearts of all; Is acclaimed the choicest treasure That childhood can recall. Twenty-two POEM Why Should We Harry the Time A way When I was fifteen I wished I was twenty-one. And, oh, how fast the years they do run. In the Winter you are wishing for the summer to come. And when it is here you are not just satisfied, And that is the way the years they do glide. We are always hurrying the time away, Wanting the time to go fast for some particular day. Tuesday or Wednesday you wish the week was past So that you would get your little money on the last, Oh, why should we worry, and why should we hurry the time away. For as long as we have got to live it is a short time to stay. We go along and hurry away the day. It is not long and our hair is sprinkled with gray. And when you get old you are wishing to be back To the days when you were young and gay. So why should we worry the time away? POEM Twenty-three Autumn The frost-kissed leaves are falling In clouds of red and gold, The sun is brightly shining The air is clear and cold. The deep and silent river Beneath a bright blue sky Takes on the hue of Heaven Right pleasing to the eye. The orchards and the vineyards Give forth a fruity smell, And the odor of the pine trees Seems to cast on me a spell. I hear the small boys shouting As they whip the chestnut trees, And it sounds to me like music As it floats upon the breeze. The furry little creatures Are hurrying here and there Hording up their stores for Winter While they yet can seize a share. The birds are chatting gaily As they plan to southward fly To the flower laden gardens Till old Winter passes by. The ragged white clouds floating Across the distant sky Adds beauty to the picture Spread out before the eye. If we sum all these together Or take them one by one. What season is more pleasant Than the frosty bright Autumn? Twenty-four POEM My Cottage House There is a little old cottage that sets bj^ the sea, Many days and nights it has sheltered my dear wife and me. The winds they would blow and the waves would roll so high, They would come to the door of the cottage That sheltered my wife and I. I loved the sea and loved to hear it roar, And the ivy so green over our little cottage door. Oh, how many happy hours we have spent, In the little cottage where I had to pay no rent. For weeks we would walk along the sea shore But we will never take that walk any more, For my dear one is laid in her grave to rest. Oh, she was the one that I loved best. She has gone on her long and lonely way But I think of her in my travels every day. No more we will sit in that cottage and talk, No more along the sea shore we will walk. So I will have to travel alone, For my dearest has left my little cottage home. POEM Twenty-fm A Wayward Son There are sad hearts grieving at the dear old home And the ones you left there are waiting till you come. Mother dear is waiting, so is poor old Dad, How those hearts are aching for their wayward lad. Can you not remember how you promised them You would make a fortune and return again? When the birds are singing and the sun is shining bright, You will think of home and Mother and then perhaps you'll write. And when you are sleeping they to jou in dreams will come Often to remind you of another one. One who long has rested neath the trysting tree Who's young life was blighted, who's soul longed to be free. No you have not forgotten the promise made to her When you searched together for the opening chestnut burr. Days and months and years she waited, thinking always you'd return 'Till her weary heart was broken and her soul for heaven yearned. Where the ivy's creeping o'er the garden wall You will find her lying neath the tree so tall. Then lay aside your pleasures and hasten to them there, For their hearts are breaking with a load of care. While you've been wandering in those lands afar, They have still been waiting with the gate ajar. Bring them this Thanksgiving a most gladsome joy Let them give a welcome to their returned boy. Then Mother Nature's bounty will fairer to them seem, When the dark clouds are lifted and they catch the silver gleam. To them, the old home's dearer than any other place, And there's not a sight more welcome than your honest, smil- ing face ; And when their lives are garnered to that beautiful home above You with thoughts most tender will remember those you love. Twenty- six POEM Merry Christmas Once a year comes Christmas, That glorious day of all the year, The day of fun and frolic, Of right, good-will, and cheer. The day for loving and giving, To those both great and small, From the highest, most righteous living To the poorest, humblest of all. There are some without home and kindred ; Tired, forlorn, and alone, Would be glad of a friendly hand-clasp And a welcome at some hearth stone. It might be the breath of the fir tree Or the voices of childhood gay That would give them the needed courage To travel life's hard pathway. Let us be friendly and thoughtful, Courteous, kind, and true ; Always remembering the stranger, 'Tis the least that we can do. Ever looking around us, To see if such there be With whom we can share our gladness And our glorious Christmas tree. P OEM Twenty- at ven A Troublesome Neighbor How many people through life you have seen They are always borrowing, you think them a fiend. If you have anything better they will ask to borrow, And tell you they will bring it back tomorrow; But they will forget and then come for more, There are a hundred different things that brings them to your door. They will borrow this and they will borrow that, They will ask for your clothes and even your new hat. When it rains, your umbrella they have got, And they will have the best one in the lot. They want the w r ashboard, they have some clothes to rub ; The flat irons, your boiler, the wash line, and tub. She was at the store but was just too late, So she has to have bread for her husband ' to take. And if she's refused she will think that she's abused. So they will come to you for their supply, And when you want yourself you will have to buy. It is alright to borrow but not every day, And always be prompt and ready to pay. And let me add this word of advice, Do not borrow so much for it is not nice. Whenever you want' sugar, coffee, pepper, or tea, Go to the store and buy: Then you will see How much more sociable vour neighbors will be. Twenty eight POEM The Old Church Bell Beautiful in the sunset's glory Shines out the church spire tall, And the deep-toned bell within it Sends out its cheery call. As the last ray of sunlight Touches the far hill's crest It gleams athwart the belfry And the old bell now at rest. That old bell so well remembered Many varied tales has told Of new years young and rosy Of old years, drear and cold. It tells of merry makings Of funerals and weddings, too, It tells anew each Easter Of the Savior who died for you. Some times, its tones they are solemn, Again they are gay and loud ; But whenever the old bell starts ringing There is sure to be a crowd. It speaks aloud, "In Memoriam" Of the men in blue and gray, And of our brave boys in khaki War felled so far away. It rings for "Independence" As the Liberty Bell of old It flings out joyful music To freemen strong and bold. POEM Twenty-nine The Old Church Bell (continued) We bow our heads on Thanksgiving To its old familiar call Our grateful hearts overflowing With love for the giver of all. From the early days of the Pilgrims To the present goodly times, We wait for the voice of the old bell To peal forth in Thanksgiving chimes. And when on Christmas morning All the bells so gladly ring; We see in our minds a picture Of a manger and new-born king. The choir sings a beautiful anthem, And then the old bell swings Its silvery, deep tones, telling Of our Savior, Lord and King. From our hearts on the eve of the New Year Comes a long and deep-drawn sigh, For we know when the bell starts ringing The Old Year will surely die. A year full of hope and rejoicings Heartaches and sorrows, too, Yet we know it fulfilled its promise Brought when the year was new. Years the old bell has hung there, In sunshine and in storm Always willing and ready Each service to perform. Should ever it hang there silent With hushed and voiceless tongue, 'Twould be missed alike by the old folks, And the happy, careless young. Thirty POEM Circus Days I am a jolly circus girl and work at my trade, I have traveled more than twice around the world. In most of the cities I have been in the parade, I have traveled with P. T. Barnum and Ringling Brothers, too. I have seen some pleasant days and some so very blue. I have medals from the kings and queen, And many foreign lands I have seen. On American soil I have traveled the most, Many times I have been from coast to coast. Under the big canvas, miles I have rode around the rings, I can tell some interesting stories and very funny things. Many would make you laugh, some would almost make you cry, For there are many things that happen to us as the years go by. How proudly I listen to the music of the bands When they parade through the cities in different lands. Large herd of elephants, and cages standing in a row, And thousands of people coming in to see the show. I can see my circus days are nearly o 'er, Then no more I will hear the old lions roar. Now my friends and acquaintances know what I have done, I have rode around the rings and the clowns have made the fun. My bright sparkling attire I will soon lay away, I will be very lonesome without my fine dappled gray. When my show days are over and I have rode my last, I will bid my friends goodbye and think of the past. STANDARD PRINTING CO. 414 SUPERIOR ST, '