A Song of the Open Road, and Other Verses

by Louis J. McQuilland

A SONG OF THE
OPEN ROAD AND
OTHER VERSES
By Louis J. McQuilland

With a Proem in Verse by “G. K. C.”
A Preface by CECIL CHESTERTON
And an Impression of the Author
and Three Decorative Drawings by
D A V I D W I L S O N

HEATH CRANTON, LIMITED
FLEET LANE, LONDON

NOTE

Some of the poems in this volume appeared in the “Spectator,” “Vanity Fair,” “The New Witness,” “The Sketch” and “The Gypsy.” Several of the shorter verses were originally published in the “Daily News,” the “Sunday Pictorial” and the “Sunday Herald.” Messrs. Boosey & Co., 295 Regent Street, possess the sole musical rights of the lyric, “When I Sail to the Fortunate Islands.”

All rights reserved.

BALLADE TO AN IRISHMAN
To L. J. McQ.

TO verse and to the long ago,
The game we played at, pretty dears,
When some of us were clever (oh!)
And all of us were Modern (Cheers)
When, Pioneers, O Pioneers,
Stuck in the mud in various ways—
I drink to Ireland down the years,
To thine, and mine, and better days.

Even then, at least we did not go
With them that lent their lengthy ears,
To Pigott, Carson, nark and Co.,
Not then preferred the snivelling sneers
Of damned and putrid profiteers
(If I may be allowed the phrase),
To justice and the great arrears,
To thine and mine and better days.