OKLAHOMA
AND
OTHER POEMS
BY
FREEMAN E. MILLER, A.M.,
PROFESSOR OF ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE IN THE
AGRICULTURAL AND MECHANICAL COLLEGE OF
OKLAHOMA TERRITORY.
BUFFALO
CHARLES WELLS MOULTON
1895
COPYRIGHT, 1895,
BY FREEMAN E. MILLER, A.M.
PRINTED BY
CHARLES WELLS MOULTON,
BUFFALO, N.Y.
TO
JAMES WHITCOMB RILEY,
IN AFFECTIONATE
MEMORY OF OTHER DAYS.
Our dearest joys forever flow
From fountains of the Long Ago,
That from the heights of pleasures past
Flood all the present valleys vast,
And with eternal glees provide
The future's endless ocean tide.
To ope each cage where a heartless age
Hath chained the birds of singing,
Till Love's own glee that is fond and free
Shall laugh where they are winging,—
Such is my wish. 'Tis true, hold I,
That songs, like birds, in bondage die.
CONTENTS.
OKLAHOMA 9
THE RACE FOR HOMES 15
AT PERRY, SEPTEMBER 16, 1893 19
"SING ME A SONG, O WIND." 21
A CHRISTMAS CAROL 24
YEARS THAT ARE TO BE 26
IF WE DON'T OR IF WE DO 28
DEAR SONGS OF MY COUNTRY 30
JULY FOURTH 33
"O, GENTLE SHADES OF QUIET WOODS." 35
LOVE 37
WINTERS ON THE FARM 39
"O, WEAK AND WEARY WORLD." 41
EX ANIMA 43
"LO, ALL THE AGE IS RANK WITH WRONG." 45
"LOVE, THOU GAYEST FANCY-WEAVER." 47
THE FARMER 49
"NATURE HAS A THOUSAND CHOIRS." 51
THE WORKINGMAN 53
GIVING AND FORGIVING 55
"O