76 Quotes by James Whitcomb Riley

Herein are blown from out the South / Songs blithe as those of Pan's pursed mouth-- / As sweet in voice as, in perfume, / The night-breath of magnolia-bloom.

As one in sorrow looks upon / The dead face of a loyal friend, / By the dim light of New Year's dawn / I saw the Old Year end.

That we, who see by sense of touch / And taste and hearing, see things you / May never look upon; and true / Is it that even in the scent / Of blossoms we find something meant / No eyes have in their faces read, / Or wept to see interpreted.

Ah! how sweet to seem, love, / Drugged and half aswoon / With this luscious dream, love, / In the heart of June.

And you might think it strange if now / I told you you were smiling. How / Do I know that? I hold your hand-- / Its language I can understand--

Tell you what I like the best -- / 'Long about knee-deep in June, / 'Bout the time strawberries melts / On the vine, -- some afternoon / Like to jes' git out and rest, / And not work at nothin' else!

O the drum! / There is some / Intonation in thy grum / Monotony of utterance that strikes the spirit dumb, / As we hear / Through the clear / And unclouded atmosphere, / Thy palpitating syllables roll in upon the ear!

The priceless worth of the flower that knowsNo change, but a bloom divine / The bloom of a fadeless constancy / That hides in the leaves in wait for me.

Ring out the shame and sorrow / And the misery and sin / That the dawning of the morrow / May in peace be ushered in.