Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Anne Folland and PG Distributed
Proofreaders
JOSEPH MORRIS and ST. CLAIR ADAMS
This is a volume of inspirational poems. Its purpose is to bring mencourage and resolution, to cheer them, to fire them with new confidencewhen they grow dispirited, to strengthen their faith that THINGS CAN BEDONE. It is better for this purpose than the entire works of any onepoet, for it takes the cream of many and has greater diversity than anyone writer can show.
It is made up chiefly of very recent poems—not such as were written foranthologies of poetical "gems," but such as speak directly to the heart,always in very simple language, often in the phrases of shop or officeor street. Included, however, with the poems of the day are a few of thefine old pieces that have been of comfort to men through the ages.
Besides the poems themselves, the volume contains helps to theirunderstanding and enjoyment. The pieces are introduced by shortcomments; these serve the same purpose as the strain played by thepianist before the singer begins to sing; they create a mood, give apoint of view, throw light on the meaning of what follows. Also thelives of the authors are briefly summarized; this is in answer to ournatural interest in the writer of a poem we like, and in the case ofliving poets it brings together facts hardly to be found anywhere else.
Finally, the book is not one to be read and then cast aside. It is to bekept as a constant companion and an unfailing recourse in weariness orgloom. Human companions are not always in the mood to cheer us, and maytalk upon themes we dislike. But this book will converse or be silent,it is never out of sorts or discouraged, and so far from being wed tosome single topic, it will speak to us at any time on any subject wedesire.
To many authors and publishers acknowledgment is due for generouspermission to use copyright material.
Abou Ben Adhem……………………….. Leigh Hunt
Answer, The………………………….. Grantland Rice
Appreciation…………………………. William Judson Kibby
Arrow and the Song, The……………….. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Awareness……………………………. Miriam Teichner
Bars of Fate, The…………………….. Ellen M.H. Gates
Battle Cry…………………………… John G. Neihardt
Belly and the Members, The…………….. William Shakespeare
Be the Best of Whatever You Are………… Douglas Malloch
Borrowed Feathers…………………….. Joseph Morris
Borrowing Trouble…………………….. Robert Burns
Brave Life…………………………… Grantland Rice
Call of the Unbeaten, The……………… Grantland Rice
Can't……………………………….. Edgar A. Guest
Can You Sing a Song?………………….. Joseph Morris
Cares……………………………….. Elizabeth Barrett Browning
Celestial Surgeon, The………………… Robert Louis Stevenson
Challenge……………………………. Jean Nette
Chambered Nautilus, The……………….. Oliver Wendell Holmes
Character of a Happy Life……………… Sir Henry Wotton
Clear the Way………………………… Charles Mackay
Cleon and I………………………….. Charles Mackay
Columbus…………………………….. Joaquin Miller
Conqueror, The……………………….. Berton Braley
Co-operation…………………………. J. Mason Knox
Courage…………………………