Illinois Verse/Once Upon a Time
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For works with similar titles, see Once Upon a Time.
Once Upon a Time
Once upon a time, dear father of mine,
You opened that wonder-book of sphere and line
To us. So much of that lore is gone, alas!
But deeper truths that last you taught your class:—
To solve the long hard problems that life brings
And striving, reach the plane of higher things.
You opened that wonder-book of sphere and line
To us. So much of that lore is gone, alas!
But deeper truths that last you taught your class:—
To solve the long hard problems that life brings
And striving, reach the plane of higher things.
"Not necessarily,"—Those words drift across
Time's space to me, and the great the sense of loss
How sweet the memory that brings once more
Each little treasured phrase! Thus on death's shore
We light from out the past the broken spars
And with their sparks we see above the stars.
Time's space to me, and the great the sense of loss
How sweet the memory that brings once more
Each little treasured phrase! Thus on death's shore
We light from out the past the broken spars
And with their sparks we see above the stars.
A gallant soldier in your country's need,
The training to obey and yet to lead
Gave to your mien a fine integrity,
A dignity,—a privilege to see.
O, blest are we who've known in this world's strife
The quiet inspiration of your life.
The training to obey and yet to lead
Gave to your mien a fine integrity,
A dignity,—a privilege to see.
O, blest are we who've known in this world's strife
The quiet inspiration of your life.