Jasper County Democrat, Volume 19, Number 20, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 June 1916 — THE SINGER [ARTICLE]

THE SINGER

(By Walt Mason)

I sing my song the whole day long, and keep my harp a-going, to try to cheer the people near, while dodging bricks they’re throwing. I sing of hope ami ail such dope, of gay and bright tomorrows, of canning care and black despair, and putting lids on sorrows. Year after year this sort of cheer, I’m tirelessly providing, and my winged steed keeps up his speed, though galled by too much riding. Throughout this land the folks will stand a lot of misfit singing, if but the bard, when whooping hard, a gladsome note is springing. Though cracked his voice, if he’ll rejoice, and laugh at woe and walling, men will remark, “Long may his bark on smiling seas be sailing!” Yet poets write of starless nights, and ghouls and women weeping, of lovers dead and vampires dread that batten on the sleeping. This dismal pote oft finds his goat has from his keeping wandered; his odes won’t bring enough, by jing, to have his nightie laundered. For in this vale the rhythmic wail will never tempt sane buyers, who’ll blow their piles for cheerful smiles and lays by lilting liars.