Ellis Parker Butler
Why Washington Retreated
1775 Said Congress to George Washington: “To set this country free, You’ll have to whip the Britishers And chase them o’er the sea.” “Oh, very well,” said Washington, “I’ll do the best I can.
The Charge of the Second Iowa Cavalry
Comrades, many a year and day Have fled since that glorious 9th of May When we made the charge at Farmington. But until our days on earth are done Our blood will burn and
Djolan
Soft was the night, the eve how airy, When through the big, fat dictionary I wandered on in careless ease, And read the a’s, b’s, c’s and d’s! But stop! What is this form
Anticipation
I hold her letter as I stand, Nor break the seal; no need to guess What dainty little female hand Penned this most delicate address. The scented seal-I break it not, But stand in
The Ballad Of A Bachelor
Listen, ladies, while I sing The ballad of John Henry King. John Henry was a bachelor, His age was thirty-three or four. Two maids for his affection vied, And each desired to be his
The Sheep
The Sheep adorns the landscape rural And is both singular and plural- It gives grammarians the creeps To hear one say, “A flock of sheeps.” The Sheep is gentle, meek and mild, And led
The Ballade Of The Automobile
When our yacht sails seaward on steady keel And the wind is moist with breath of brine And our laughter tells of our perfect weal, We may carol the praises of ruby wine; But
A Study In Feeling
To be a great musician you must be a man of moods, You have to be, to understand sonatas and etudes. To execute pianos and to fiddle with success, With sympathy and feeling you
October
The forest holds high carnival to-day, And every hill-side glows with gold and fire; Ivy and sumac dress in colors gay, And oak and maple mask in bright attire. The hoarded wealth of sober
Night In The City
The sluggish clouds hang low upon the town, And from yon lamp in chilled and sodden rays The feeble light gropes through the heavy mist And dies, extinguished in the stagnant maze. From moisty
Judgment Day
Saint Peter stood, at Heaven’s gate, All souls claims to adjudicate Saying to some souls, “Enter in!” “Go to Hell,” to others, “you are steeped in sin.” When up from earth, with a great
Jabed Meeker, Humorist
Twain? Oh, yes, I’ve heard Mark Twain Heard him down to Pleasant Plain; Funny? Yes, I guess so. Folks Seemed to laugh loud at his jokes- Laughed to beat the band; but I Couldn’t
Mouths Of Hippopotami And Some Recent Novels
(with apologies to Frederic Taber Cooper) I well recall (and who does not) The circus bill-board hippopotamus, Whose wide distended jaws For fear and terror were good cause. That month, that vasty carmine cave,
Why I Went To The Foot
Was ever a maiden so worried? I’ll admit I am partial to Jim, For Jimmie has promised to wed me When I’m old enough to wed him. But then I love teacher, too, dearly,
Golden Silence
I told her I loved her and begged but a word, One dear little word, that would be For me by all odds the most sweet ever heard, But never a word said she!