"Upon a poet's lips I slept dreaming like a love adept in the sounds his breathing kept. "(Percy Shelley)
“The poet's eye, in a fine frenzy rolling,
doth glance from heaven to Earth,
from Earth to heaven... (Shakespeare)
Early Poetry
“A DAY” (1st year High School, Age 14 – Winter 1931)
The eastern sky of rosy hue
Turns quickly into gold;
It is Aurora the goddess of Dawn,
Advancing slow but bold.
​
As still we gaze upon the scene,
The sun climbs up on high
Covering the world with heat and light
And glorifying the sky.
​
And then when toil and labor is o’er
We turn to the western sky,
And watch the sun as it slowly sinks
Bidding us all good-bye.
“DREAMS” (January 20, 1932 – during World History period)
Dreams, Ah Dreams!
Hopes that live but for a day;
Fondly they’re gathered
Reluctantly they pass
They have not long to stay.
​
But still they do their bit
They brighten up the gloom
Of life; its trials enlighten
And when departing, lea
ve
Joy to share our doom.
Ah! Daydreams
And castles in the air,
They make me sad
But still, they brighten
And enlighten pain and care.
​
Idle dreams
Of things that cannot be
Heartsick and discouraged,
They light my way
And let my troubles flee
.
.
Dreams of fancy!
Useless, empty dreams
Built in idle hours
But to crumble soon
Making room for more it seems
“A PLEA FOR FORGIVENESS” (TO Miss Edith Austin – Latin teacher 1931-32)
To you, whom I hold in high esteem,
These “humble” lines I send
To show I really love you
And want to be your friend.
​
I wish to be forgiven
For the many things I’ve done;
The things that greatly tried you
Were only meant in fun.
​
I know I do not seem to show
That I care in anyway
For the many things you’ve told me
And your kindness each day.
​
But just to show I’m sorry,
For my words and acts in class,
I’ll start right in this afternoon
To make up for my past.
​
Your devoted Latin pupil.
Mary E. Atkinson
​
P.S. You may laugh if you wish but I really mean it. M.E.A
A SMILE March 10, 1933
What a wonderful meaning there is in a smile,
That comes from the heart of a friend!
What a measure of cheer and great joy it can bring
And what discouraging rents it can mend!
​
A smile from a friend is more valued than gold;
It’s more than a fortune to me.
I know when I see it, at least there is one,
Who cares what my future will be.
“DEEDS OF TODAY” (8th Grade, Age 13)
Do each day, to-day, to-morrow,
Some kind deed though very small
So that on the dawning morning
You’ll be happy if you fall.
​
Let us live that so to-morrow
We can to our children say,
“I am not ashamed at present
Of my deeds of yesterday.”
​
Cling to God, in all His glory
He will welcome you above.
And those who like you climb on upward
Also seek to share His love.
FAREWELL ALMA MATER! (For March 29th issue of Co-ed, 1934)
Farewell, oh Alma Mater!
We leave with tear dimmed eyes,
Our memories of thee fonder grow,
And those memories bring our sighs.
​
Four years ago you welcomed us
And made us happy here,
And now that memory makes us sad,
As we see our parting near
.
Four years you’ve strived to aid us,
And teach us what we know,
And now our time is at an end
We find it hard to go.
​
Four years of earnest work and play,
Then the end abruptly comes;
And we think of bidding sad adieu
To teachers, friends and chums.
​
But though we wander far and wide
Alma Mater never fear,
Our debt to you will ne’er forget
Nor the things that you made dear.
​
​
So farewell Alma Mater,
Farewell, oh, memories sweet;
We’ll treasure thee until the end
That makes this life complete.
“I DREAM OF THE ‘80’s” (8th Grade, Age 13)
I sit in the summer sunlight
Upon a hill so high
Dreaming of the “past time”
The time of days gone by.
​
I dream of the days of the cowboy
And the days of the pioneer, too,
The time they all came to Dakota
Where the settlers were far and few.
​
I dream, how they fought with the Indian
For freedom and right to live
How they braved the storms of the winter
And this land to us did give.
​
Then I long for the days of the ‘80’s
The time when Dakota was new
The time when you fought for your freedom
The days that our grandfathers knew.
ONE MORE CHANCE (Completed January 21, 1933)
Away to the west and the setting sun
Away from life’s care and pain
I would love to go at the close of day
Taking naught but my wealth and gain.
​
Just to drop all care like a faded cloak
Never to wear it again
And be pure and clean on the dawning day
As the flowers after a rain.
​
To start all over and live again
This life I have wasted away
To make amends for the wrong I’ve done
And the things that didn’t pay.
​
Just one more chance is all I’d ask
And I’d make my days worthwhile
By living straight and clean and good
Obscure from all things vile.
SCATTERING SUNSHINE (7th grade, age 12)
Of sunbeams there are many,
Both on earth and sky.
They scatter sunshine everywhere
On earth and heaven high.
​
Each person to this earth has come,
Some mission to perform.
And all the while they may scatter sunshine,
In rain or shine or storm.
​
While on earth we scatter sunshine,
We’re preparing for above.
And some day, when God is lonesome,
He’ll call us home to share His love.
“SCHOOL WELFARE CLUB” (6TH Grade, Age 11)
You may talk about the colleges
Like Harvard and Yale,
And some folks think it’s lots of fun
To visit at the jail.
But I am going to tell you
It really isn’t fair,
Not to take a little time
To think of our good school club, Welfare.
​
We’re trying to tend to business
And live up to our name.
And all of those who join it,
Well, we hope they’ll do the same.
And when our parents come visiting here,
We’ll try to give some cheer,
So everyone will happy be
Through out the whole New Year.
SHE IS GONE (Sophomore Year – October 16, 1931, Age 15)
She is gone, but the cycle of life goes on
The same as it did before;
I miss her sadly from this earth
And so do many more.
​
She was a girl, who was good and just,
She loved and was loved by all,
She believed in the Lord and followed Him
And faltered not at His call.
​
And though her passing changed us some
We go on living still,
With a merry heart and cheery song
Trying to live God’s will
“SPRING” (8th Grade, Age 13)
The sun is shining brightly
The snow is going away
The birds will soon come flying back
With their cheerful songs, so gay.
​
The flowers soon will be blooming
And the trees will soon be green
The gopher shall run in the pasture
And the young blades of grass will be seen.
​
The children all are happy
For school will soon dismiss
And the days of their summer vacation
Shall be filled with joy and bliss.
​
They play and laugh and romp all day
Their cares to the wind they fling
They all seem happy to be alive
For tis Spring, Spring, Spring.
“THE LAND OF LIFE ETERNAL” (8TH Grade, Age 13) (March 21, 19300
There’s a wonderful pace
Not so far off from here
Where we’ll ever be happy
And we nothing will fear.
​
We’ll live forever
And play all day
No tears will be shed
Everyone will be gay.
​
There will never be war
There will never be shame
No one shall be sick
Or blind or lame.
​
Our clothing shall not be ragged
We shall dress in the whitest of gowns
The days will be filled with sunshine
Our joys will know no bounds.
​
We’ll dwell in beautiful mansions
On mountain, plain or hill
There shall be no evil temptations
To bribe or steal or kill.
We’ll be ruled by the greatest of masters
The law of that land will be “Love”
We shall love each and all of our neighbors
In that wonderful land above.
​
If we follow the gleam of God’s goodness
While on this earth we dwell
If we believe His word and teach it
And the evil spirit quell.
​
If we know our sins are forgiven
And our souls are as white as snow
We can go to live in the country
Where the fountain of youth does flow.
​
We shall climb up the golden staircase
And enter the pearly gates
And walk in the beautiful city
Where our gentle master waits.
​
There we shall live forever
We never again will die
In the land of beautiful sunshine
Where clouds ne’er mar the sky.
THE OTHER FELLOW September 6, 1933, Age 17
Did ya’ ever get to feelin’
When Life’s sky is rather grey
And the storm clouds thickly gather
That “your” road’s the roughest way?
Did ya’ ever get to thinkin’
You’re the only one who pays
No Matter what nor where nor why
You’ve got the toughest days?
​
Then listen friend and neighbor
When you get a gloomy thought
Just think of Bill and Pete and Ed
And the things that fall “their” lot.
​
You’ll find it’s going to cheer ya’
To know that on this earth
There’s more than you that’s got to work,
To make Life what it’s worth.
“TO A TULIP” (8TH Grade, Age 13)
(Won 1st prize in Young Citizen’s League (Y.C.L.) Original Poem Contest for 1929-30. Spoken on program’s School Rally Day, May 3, 1930)
O, beautiful flower
That blooms in the Spring!
You enlighten the world
And glad cheerfulness bring.
​
When the sun is shining,
Your blossoms so sweet,
Reach out in the sunshine
The people to greet.
​
Then cheered by your greeting,
They go on their way,
Their souls much the happier,
Their spirits more gay.
​
O tulip, so beautiful,
With your blossom blood red,
You’ve cheered me and blessed me
With a nod of your head.
​
It seems that God sent you
Down here from above,
To bless all His children
And share them His love.
“TO MY PAL” (December 2, 1931 – For English II, theme on Friendship)
To you my friend and dearest pal,
I send these friendly lines,
To remind you of our friendship
And our many happy times.
​
You’ve always been to me a pal,
A faithful, loyal friend;
Thro’ all my joy and sorrow
You’ve stuck until the end.
​
I know that I can trust you
And depend upon you, too;
I know you’ll never fail me
When I’m down and out or blue.
​
You’ve always been the kind of pal,
A fellow likes to know,
One who trusts and loves you
And to whom a king would bow.
​
A thousand words cannot express
Your words of friendship true
And how I wish to thank you.
For all the things you do.
UPWARD AND ONWARD Written for the March 10th issue of the Co-ed
“Upward and Onward” Motto of Senior Class of Bristol High School 1934
Upward and onward!
The fight is not o’er,
Upward and onward!
We’re looking for more.
More worlds to conquer,
More hopes to fulfill,
More fears to banish,
With a conquering will.
​
Upward we’re toiling,
Onward we press,
Making our chances
Of losing, the less.
​
We’re found for a mansion
Renown and a throne,
With success as the goal
To win for our own.
WHEN YOU’RE FEELING RATHER LOW (8th grade, age 13)
When you’re feeling rather low,
Don’t look so.
Take a smile where ere you go,
Don’t be slow.
Tell the world you’re feeling gay,
Go on whistling all the day.
You’ll soon drive the clouds away,
If you play.
WIND AND MIST AND STORMY WEATHER (Sophomore Year – October 22, 1931)
Wind and mist and stormy weather,
Rain and shine and snow,
Heartaches, tears and longings,
Fire and flame and glow;
Skies of blue and grey together
With those of rosy hue,
Sunshine, starshine, happy days
And bright smiles beaming through;
These and with the word of Jesus
Showing us the way,
Make up the world we live in
And fill our every day.
WONDERING (8th Grade, Age 13)
One day I pondered wondering,
Dreaming of days to be.
I wondered what experience
Our eight grade class would see.
​
I wondered, in the years to come,
Would our wishes be fulfilled?
Would our daydreams and longings,
Be refreshed and living still?
​
Would we still be struggling upward?
Or would we fall in shame?
Would we be poor and lowly?
Or classed with those of fame?
​
Would we in life’s broken pathway
Find happiness or pain?
Would we help or scorn the others,
Through their losses or their gain?
​
It’s alright, I guess to wonder,
But I’m glad that we don’t know,
What the future holds in waiting
As we slowly through life go.