Introduction
Alan L. Strang was born in Spokane, Washington, August 18, 1908. Living there until he was four years old, he came to California in 1913 with his parents, making their home in Redwood City.
He had a gentle, loving disposition, was always frail and delicate and possessed a mental development far in advance of his years. He was taken to the Great Beyond January 29, 1919.
The poems contained in this book were written prior to his tenth birthday. Considering the age of the author we feel that the work contains real merit, while the sentiment expressed betokens that patriotic spirit which never fails or hesitates when our country calls for men.
J. L. S.
To the Reader of this Book
This little book's a letter,
I send direct to you;
I hope that you will like it,
And read it thru and thru.
And after you have read it,
Just send a thot to me;
Your thots will help to make me
The "Poet" I would be.
Yours very truly,
ALAN L. STRANG,
Redwood City, California.
Our Boys
Written after the United States entered the war, fighting on the side of the Entente Allies.
Halt! Attention! Salute the flag,
The boys are marching by;
They're going forth to win the war
For us to do or die.
Our country needed fighting men,
Her liberty to save;
These boys responded to the call,
And all they had they gave.
All loyal hearts are beating fast,
And hope our bosoms fill;
For liberty shall reign supreme
O'er ocean, dale and hill.
With no regrets for parted hopes
Or futures cast aside,
Our soldier boys are marching by;
They are our country's pride.
Our Soldier Boy
Written as a tribute to my brother, W. M. Strang, with the Engineers.
He said, "I'm Daddy's soldier boy,"
When he was five years old;
And then went out and built snow forts,
Although the day was cold.
The snowballs were his hand grenades,
A stick his bayonette;
And with a home-made wooden gun
The foe he bravely met.
In five more years he joined the "scouts"
And hiked across the hills;
He learned to wear a khaki suit,
And do military drills.
And so the years passed swiftly on,
And now he is a man;
He's in the trenches over there,
Fighting for Uncle Sam.
I know he'll make the Huns regret
They started this big fight,
For he knows the cause he's fighting for
Is liberty and right.
A Small Boy's Desire
Written for the first thrift stamp drive.
I want to be a soldier
And march away to France;
I want to find a wicked "Hun,"
And shoot him in the pants.
I want to be a soldier,
And wear a khaki suit;
I want to have a sword and gun
And all the "Boches" shoot.
I want to be a soldier,
And have an aeroplane
To drop bombs on the German towns,
And fly back home again.
I want to be a soldier
And do my little bit;
My country needs brave fighting men,
While here at home I sit.
Some day I'll be a big, big man;
I'll go to war and fight
The wicked Hun, or any one
Who does not do what's right.
But now the only way for me
To help my country win,
Is save my coin and buy thrift stamps,
So, boys, let's save our tin.
The Storm
The rough old Mr. Storm
Is whirling, swirling past
He makes the treetops bow their heads
And trembles at his blast.
He never stops to think
Of the damage he may do,
He's always rushing in and out
And hitting, batting you.
He pushes big, black clouds
Against the mountain tops;
The rain and hail comes rushing down
In large, round crystal drops.
The storm will soon be over;
See the rainbow in the sky.
The birds will sing on airy wing,
And the bright sun shine on high.