Idyllic Monologues: Old and New World Verses

Poems by Madison Cawein
OLD AND NEW WORLD VERSES
BY THE AUTHOR OF
Undertones Garden of Dreams
John P. Morton and Company
Publishers—Louisville, Kentucky
Copyrighted 1898 BY MADISON CAWEIN
TO MY FRIEND: R. E. LEE GIBSON
This collection of poems is entirely new with the exception of three or four which appeared in two earlier volumes, published some ten years ago. The reprinted poems have been carefully re-written, and so changed throughout as to hardly bear any resemblance, except that of subject, to the original.
And one, perchance, will read and sigh: What aimless songs! Why will he sing Of nature that drags out her woe Through wind and rain, and sun, and snow, From miserable spring to spring? Then put me by.
And one, perhaps, will read and say: Why write of things across the sea; Of men and women, far and near, When we of things at home would hear— Well, who would call this poetry? Then toss away.
A hopeless task have we, meseems, At this late day; whom fate hath made Sad, bankrupt heirs of song; who, filled With kindred yearnings, try to build A tower like theirs, that will not fade, Out of our dreams.