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James Whitcomb Riley - The Book Of Joyous Children
Work rating: Low

Bound and bordered in leaf-green,
    Edged with trellised buds and flowers
  And glad Summer-gold, with clean
      White and purple morning-glories
      Such as suit the songs and stories
    Of this book of ours,
  Unrevised in text or scene,--
        The Book of Joyous Children.

  Wild and breathless in their glee--
    Lawless rangers of all ways
  Winding through lush greenery
      Of Elysian vales--the viny,
      Bowery groves of shady, shiny
    Haunts of childish days.
  Spread and read again with me
        The Book of Joyous Children.

  What a whir of wings, and what
    Sudden drench of dews upon
  The young brows, wreathed, all unsought,
      With the apple-blossom garlands
      Of the poets of those far lands
    Whence all dreams are drawn
  Set herein and soiling not
        The Book of Joyous Children.

  In their blithe companionship
    Taste again, these pages through,
  The hot honey on your lip
      Of the sun-smit wild strawberry,
      Or the chill tart of the cherry;
    Kneel, all glowing, to
  The cool spring, and with it sip
        The Book of Joyous Children.

  As their laughter needs no rule,
    So accept their language, pray.--
  Touch it not with any tool:
      Surely we may understand it,--
      As the heart has parsed or scanned it
    Is a worthy way,
  Though found not in any School
        The Book of Joyous Children.

  Be a truant--know no place
    Of prison under heaven`s rim!
  Front the Father`s smiling face--
      Smiling, that _you_ smile the brighter
      For the heavy hearts made lighter,
    Since you smile with Him.
  Take--and thank Him for His grace--
        The Book of Joyous Children.
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