Read Ebook: A Life's Story In Poetry. Other Poems by Woodcock Dennison

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Ebook has 117 lines and 8985 words, and 3 pages

They have tunnel'd the lofty mount'ns Clear through from side to side; And bridged the gushing fountains, That trains may smoothly glide. The north unto the south are bound, And gridironed all the land, From the Missouri's turbid mouth To Lake Superior's sand.

The telephone and telegraph, They give a rising start; Are helping people talk and laugh A hundred miles apart. With lightning speed th' news is hurl'd On many wires is sped; Yesterday's news from all the world In morning papers read.

Then came the mower and the reaper, The farmer's great delight, Have driven the scythe and the sickle Almost away from sight. With the help of machinery, Much of his work is done; With help of steam and good horse power Machinery is run.

Agricultural colleges In almost every state; They are lifting up the farmers From a low drudging fate. They've tapped the earth for oil and gas Houses to light and warm; That cheerfulness may reign within, While outside howls the storm.

Then came the Wheeler and the Singer Others that worked complete; Helps the woman's tired fingers While sewing with her feet. The type-setter, wonderful thing, New one, under the sun; Whole lines it will together fling, From melted metal run.

I am here with loving friends, Kind neighbors all around; I wait to see what will turn up Until I am turned down.

DIADAMA Diadama, Diadama Precious name so dear to me; No other girl in Allegany Thrills my loving heart like thee. Fairer than the blushing flowers Gentle as the turtle dove, Bear me on ye heavenly powers To the bosom of my love.

Thus sang a youth by love invaded, Who felt the sting of Cupid's dart; In riper years his boy-love faded, He sought not to win her heart. In memory lingers every feature, Fair as in the days of yore, Yet he knows that once loved creature Mortal eyes can see no more.

In the giddy dance they mingle, As in years so long gone by; How it makes his heart strings tingle When he meets her smiling eye. In the schoolroom he is with her, Learning lessons by her side, Often wondering if ever She will be his loving bride.

That face, alas! He'll see it never, Those ruby lips no longer red, Those sparkling eyes are closed forever, And every pleasing charm has fled. Soon the memory and remembered, Although once in youthful prime Will no longer make a riffle On the ceaseless tide of time.

TO LEONA She gave me a fresh and blooming rosy, Little maiden fair to see; Fairer than the blushing posy Dear Leona gave to me.

An inward radiance impart Virtue and truth combine; Let an honest, faithful heart With outside beauty shine.

JESSIE BY THE FOUNTAIN

Jessie by the fountain stood With pitcher in her hand; She dipped it in the crystal flood And gave each thirsty man Who from the hay fields gathered there, And standing near the brink, From a gentle hand so fair Received the cooling drink.

A smile of joy was in her eye, A consciousness of good; She felt a blessing from on high, Approval of her God. Water pure is all they need To drive their thirst away; So again they all proceed To work amid the hay.

Then drink of water pure and clear, From stimulants refrain, 'Twill not with business interfere Or cause a muddled brain. Another stands behind the bar, Rather out of place; A seared conscience seems to mar The beauty of her face.

She cares not for children's woes Or anxious mother's need; While money to her coffer goes To gratify her greed. Men go there their thirst to check With brandy, rum and gin; She throws a halter round their necks Which drags them there again.

Their money gone and senses too, More thirsty than before; What do these foolish mortals do But beg and plead for more. They stagger out into the street, With curses on their tongue, With palsied hands and tangled feet, A sight for old and young.

Which one is a source of pride And which a social scar, Jessie by the fountain side, Or Greed behind the bar?

DEHEWAMIS

Some Senecas once went away In search of food and game; They wandered on from day to day, To little Toby came. An Indian maiden blithe and gay Was one among the throng; Who often cheered them on their way With loving words and song.

She trod as lightly as the fawn; Her song the hours beguiled; Her voice was heard at early dawn Through the green forest wild. Her song of joy is hushed and gone, Nor echoes through the glade; For death has placed his mark upon That sprightly Indian maid.

A mother's joy, a father's pride, They could not save their child; So the Indian maiden died Far in the forest wild. They would not leave her body there, So far from home away; But bore it with a zealous care, Many a weary day.

Come to a spring that met the stream That passed their happy home; Buried her by the moonlight gleam Beneath the starry dome. They often came to view the spot Where Dehewamis lay; Till father, mother, sister, brother, All had passed away.

The water gushes from the spring, The lofty maples wave; The summer birds their carols sing O'er her lonely grave.

THE RUMSELLER'S SOLILOQUY

I had rum, and gin, and brandy All made of whiskey, too, And all arranged so handy To tempt their thirsty view. Oh! no they need not talk it, Those were happy times. With hand in drunkard's pocket Hauling out the dimes.

Was I starving others? Then so let it be; Those children and the mothers Did not belong to me. While lying in the gutter, A mother's loving son, Conscience began to mutter At the deed I'd done.

Then came this consolation Just in the nick of time; The law of state and nation Had legalized the crime. For I had got my license, Had paid my license fee; So the squeemish nonsense Had no effect on me.

The brewers of the nation To the constitution go, To save their occupation From the prohibition blow, Wonder if the constitution Would reinstate me here; Defend me from invasion While selling rum and beer.

For temperance is booming, My license now is dead, And poverty is coming, My children cry for bread. Gambling I've been trying But could not stand the test; With all my cheat and lying I came out second best.

I wish I'd stuck to labor, Earned my bread by honest toil, Like my hale and happy neighbor Who ploughs and tills the soil. My flesh is made of lager, My muscles weak and lax; I cannot turn the auger, Swing the hammer or the ax.

My children's cries so wounding, My heart with anguish torn; My troubles so confounding, I wish I'd not been born. The thread of life I'd sever And lay myself to rest; But thoughts of the forever Send trouble to my breast.

Should I meet with retribution Beyond the bounds of time, Neither law nor constitution Would legalize the crime.

WRIGHTS

Limpid streams unto the river On their way go babbling by; While the silvery pools, they mirror Cloudlets floating in the sky. Growing grain and verdant meadows, Fields of corn, silos to fill; Winding streams and waving willows Orchards on the sloping hill.

Cattle grazing in the pasture On the hillside fresh and green, With their coats of silky luster, Many goats and kids are seen. There's the schoolhouse at the corner, Quiet order there appears, Where the earnest studious learners Are prepared for future years.

There's the church with lofty steeple, And the old bell hanging there, Often rings to call the people To their sermon, praise and prayer. Another church they are building, The foundation they have laid; May the golden truth be gilding All the words that there are said.

On the switch the cars are loaded With potatoes, grain and hay, So the farmers are commoded As they ship their goods away. Hark! we hear the train a-rumbling. People waiting for a ride; Four times a day the mail is coming, All aboard! Away they glide.

There's the store nearby the railroad, Business humming every day; Goods are brought there by the carload Many teams draw them away. Another store where the farmer Buys the tools that he may need; From a reaper to a hammer, Groceries with feed and seed.

The factory where they make the cheeses, Great round cheeses, just the thing What the most the patron pleases Is the cash the cheeses bring. Here the honest, frugal farmers With the help of care and toil, Bringing wealth into their garners, Drawing money from the soil. Smiles play on the the neighbors' faces, Accent of fraternal love, While at many times and places, Kindly deeds their friendship prove.

CAUTION TO BOYS, or THE SILLY FLY There was a very silly fly Buzzing low, then flying high; Down on paper smooth and fair Saw some flies were sticking there. "Those flies must be very weak, On that paper there to stick.. If I was there I would not stay, I would rise and fly away."

He lit down on the paper's side, Flew a circle large and wide, He thought to give a parting kick, Found at last the stuff would stick. He struggled hard to get away, Found that he was doomed to stay; 'Twas there he sung a doleful lay Until life had passed away.

A smart young lad would oft repair Where the smokers gathered there; Says "I will show you that I can Smoke as well as any man." His smoking made him rather sick; Hove his breakfast very quick; He smoked a little every day, Learned to smoke as well as they.

Those broken pledges at me stare, Fiends are floating in the air; The Devil's got me in his gripe. "Give me, give me back my pipe!" He, like all others of his stripe, Lifelong slave unto his pipe, And like the little, silly fly Doomed to stick until they die.

THE RUINED HOME.

Behold that house on Pleasant street, Just let us enter there; All arrangements so complete, Appropriate and fair. Music in Adjoining room So grateful to the ear; Fragrant flowers in fullest bloom And beauty doth appear.

Choice books there on the table lie, Wisdom for great and small; The pantry with its full supply; There're pictures on the wall. The father comes at closing day, The mother greets with joy, The laughing children 'round him play He pets his toddling boy.

Peace pervades that happy place, Where all is bright and free; Its loving inmates go and come, In sweetest harmony. Grief has blighted that fair bloom, The work of cursed rum, The fetid breath of the saloon Has to that dwelling come.

A thump is heard against the door, The children flee away; They wish to see his face no more While whiskey rules the day. The faithful wife opens the door, The husband staggers in, He stumbles prostrate on the floor, Borne down by rum and gin.

While helping him unto his bed-- Oh! who could tell us why-- He clenched his fist and struck her head And gave a blackened eye. His bank deposits slip away To the rumsellers till, Whose business is from day to day The drunkards' graves to fill

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