When a hand is on my shoulder in a friendly sort o’ way.

—James Whitcomb Riley.


The Troop Train

Higgledy, piggledy, we tumble in,

Rats in a cage, fish in a tin,

In evil dreams I travel again

In a clanking, clattering French troop train,

“Chevaux” eight, “Homme’s” two score

Is the legend inscribed on the box-car door.