Orrick Johns

From “Country Rhymes”

NO man’s life is open as the houses

Blindly he will build, houses of a dream;

Where many maids are running, clad in leather blouses,

Running with white legs into a stream.

Blow, blow the horns, clearer in the morning!

Never let the world hear, though the music wake

Leaves on the ash-tree and rose set thorning;

Let speech be over and no woman bake.

The ash-limbs are burdenless, the rose stands idle,

A-tremble with the horns blowing far and sweet;

And even an old man will dream of a bridal,

Seeing what he was when love was in his feet.

Blow, blow the horns, farther growing clearer!

I have seen my life and love as a cloud

A star will thrust a face through coming nearer …

Never let the world hear a glad song aloud!