STROKE / p s V^ CL^RE?{CE 005LEY Class __£Ztr,£^7 Book -^^Z^^ Copyright ]^"_ j7dZ COPVRIGHT DEPosrr ^ooooooooooooooo ] By 8 o Clare lice ^ 8 2 Ousleu o o o oooooooooooooooo 5000000000000000 Rings o ^' o § Smoke o o o o oooooooooooooooo immmk '^^^^^^'^''vy^n^^''^^- Pings 0' SmoKe Bg Clcirence Ousley The Abbeg Press London PUBLISHERS I 14 nffh Avenue NEW YORK Montreal THE LIBRARY OU CONGRESS, r>rf^, ; imp Cl_4R«CX'XXo No. Copyright, 1902 Bv THE abbc^ press ilv^o / v^^■y■^^— -^ »*vS>- "i ^^^^2^Ai Preface '^'^%a AYS I to my pipe, says I: *^^ '■ Old chap, would you mind if you happened to find '^y The things you have whispered to me Set down in a book, by hook or by crook, For jolly good fellows to see? I can do 'em in verse if I try." ® ® ® And my pipe says to me, says he: " The things I have told are to have and to hold — Not intended for gossip or sale. If you must be a fool by metrical rule, Go tattle your own fairy tale, And give me a rest," says he. Yc TaDle o\ Conrcnts A Hand-Made Cigar, 9 Verse, 10 When the Mint is in the Liquor, 11 An Autumn Afternoon, 12 Innocence, 13 Why Cindy's Nose Turns Up, 14 The Lips of Guilt and the Lips of Love, 15 Adam and Eve, 16 A College Battle Song, 20 The Rival Roses, 21 When Love Saw Duty Clearly, 2^ Anizette, 25 A Suicide, 26 When Bettie Went to Meeting, 27 The Dunes of Life, 29 The Gossiping Pipes, 30 The Cotillion, 31 Colorado-Maduro, 33 If I Could Only Weep, 34 Smoke in His Eyes, 35 A Song of the Simpler Things, 36 Old Mrs. Skeesicks, ^7 Reincarnation, 38 Cloth of Gold, 39 He Never Harmed Nobody, 40 Good-bye, Old Brier Root, 41 His Evening Pipe, 43 A Hundred Millions. 45 The Song of the Street, 47 "The Old Man," 49 Old Mammy's Pipe, 50 The Lazy Sea, 51 A Rumble and a Song. 52 The Little Branch Road, 53 My Grandfather's Fig Stem Pipe, 55 The Virgin's Dream, 56 To-day, 57 Riches and Knowledge, 58 Good Night, 60 ■^dcj^igat^i! ^M : A boy and a wad of stingy green, jSome "fillin' ", a match, and — all unseen. Behind the fence on a summer's day, Beneath the shade of a spreading bay — A "liand-made" cigar of preposterous siii Sends clouds of smoke to the sultry skies. "By gum!" said the youth, "this is simply ^eat 'And while I am at it I'll take a bait. !,'("/ 1' j^,/' Taint- every/day that I get a chance ~a y^iLJi ;0 hook suejx a roll from my daddy's pants _ nd ^^ lolled on the grass and he puffed- ^^yif'- In the swehering heat of a sumnKT^yf A^ffioment more and he closed his ^yes ^^ — X]^ rTo shut out the sight of reVolving'skies, K^^^ And he clutched at the gra^s on either side^'^''''^ As the earth careened and he felt h^'d slide. His stomach heaved aA^ the sweat broke out — He had taken "a bait" Without a doubt. W I ---^ He staggered home in the' broiling sun And tumbled to bed coAipIetely "done." S^JIe rallied at length and, solemnly swore, "v_Eke' a goody-good boy, hi'djsmoke no more. But he tried it again the viryViextS/^ "^^^ "^^^i^INDY'S nose turns up a little — Not abrupt or high — But enough to challenge notice, And I wondered why. Till I found the lips below it Pouting with a kiss, Then I knew that nature had not Fashioned it amiss. M The Lips of Guilt and the Lips ot Love HE lips of guilt are touched with a coal From the firiest depths of Hell, And the hot embrace is a demon's grip And the crunch of a human shell. But the lips of love are warm and moist As the sun and dew of God, And love's caress is the lift of life From the ruin of the rotting sod. ^ ^ ■^ The vow that leaps to the lips of guilt Is the breath of a living lie Entombed in a whited sepulchre- There never to sleep or die. But the word that drops from the lips of love Is the voice of the living truth - That coaxes the good and the beautiful From the riot and reek of earth. ^ ^ -^ O, God, keep me from the lips of guilt, From the crunch of the hot embrace, From the mock of the fetid vow, From the smell of the painted face. And give me a taste of the lips of love And the lift of love's caress — So may I live in the tents of peace On the fruits of happiness. 15 T^dam and Eve EHOLD a place of bloom and land of leaf. Where never there was death or bhght or grief To sigh their sorrows on the joying breeze Or hang their sable on the tented trees. Nor leaf nor twig nor shattered blossom lay- On field or hill or by the bowered way; But all was colored with the blush of birth, For God had breathed upon the virgin earth. oooo There Adam waked and saw with wondering eyes The sheltering foliage and the sifted skies, The trembling myrtle and the trumpet bold, The purpling grape, the citrus flecked with gold. He smelled the sprinkled morning sweet and cool As summer showers on a lilied pool, And on his quickened ear fell full and strong The music of a million-throated song. He rose majestic, featured like his God, Firm-fleshed, fine-sinewed, naked and unshod. And moved unchallenged down the scented aisles And paced with buoyant grace the winding miles i6 Of Eden's daisied fields and broidered hills. Its stately rivers and its racing rills. He passed the creatures where they browsed or played- The fiercest tame, the timid unafraid. A tiger licked his hand and nosed his thigh; A huge hyena laughed and ambled by; A scampering fawn came trotting to be fed; A circling eagle settled on his head. He found no enemy from end to end: They knew him master, and he loved as friend. So wore the day and other days as kind: All dawn before — oblivion's night behind. oooo And yet the lord of this fair, fertile fief Unsmiling was as one acquaint with grief. Attuned to song and keyed to high command, His voice was silent in a singing land. The iridescence of those rainbow days Was glare and glamour to his vacant gaze. The forest's chanting and the hill's refrain Unmeaning beat upon his puzzling brain. An eager, gnawing hunger gripped his heart: He longed for something of himself a part. Unknowing what he sought, or here or there. He wandered, looking, listening, everywhere. At length his great potential soul made moan- It was not good for man to be alone — And while he slumbered came his pitying God To match the marvel of a breathing clod — 17 By surgery of Heaven to re-create Twain from one flesh, and man to woman mate. The morrow broke on Eden more than fair And brought new carols on the rhythmic air. The grape was ripe, the citrus painted gold — The sap of life was wine turned virile-old. Then Adam waked, indeed, his blood afire And every tissue flamed with new desire. Leaping he went, instinct and appenent. To find and claim his heart's ordained content. Straight as a bird that homing wings its way. Drawn as a magnet by its polar sway. He shaped his course to where an eddying brook Played truant in a hedged and hooded nook. There oft he'd Iain upon the grassy bank — The while his nascent senses drowsed and drank Untasting of the bloom and scent and song — And. vaguely guessing, watched the mating throng Now all-discerning, hasting, hungering. He gained the hedge, but halted, wavering. Fearsome to look, yet eager to behold. Proving most timid when he felt most bold, As Love, all-daring, drives a dangered way And then stands dumb, unknowing how to say. But momently his courage came anew; Parting the brush, he started crashing through. But midway paused, transfixed by what he saw — Trembling with joy, yet stayed by rapturous awe. i8 Among the lilies Eve stood ankle deep. And, curious, watched her mirrored image peep Between the floating flags that clustered there — Out-posing them and far surpassing fair. Her arms uplifted curving framed her face; Her slender figure bent in statured grace; Her gloried hair swept mantling to her waist; Her rounding hips and taper limbs were chaste As marble fleshed in tints of morning light — In beauty clad, incarnate dream of night Startled, she cast a quick inquiring glance. That artless kindled Nature's first romance. And stepped unfearing to the grassy slope. As Adam, wrought to do, and moved by hope, Came near, she knew her lord, instinct as he, And smiling met his look unbashfully. A moment stood they, eye commanding eye. With lips apart and pulses beating high. Then each cried, "' Mine," and other answered, " Thine,' And twain were one embraced in love divine. In that swift instant, clinging close and fast. They knew the ripeness of the darkened past; Then, linking arms, strolled raptured through the wood. While God observing saw His work was good. 19 A College Battle Song ■ COLLEGE song and a college yell And a clinking farewell glass, A campus stroll and a parting pledge To tlie wistful Auburn lass, Then off to .war in the battling world And the clash of arm and brain, The stifling moil of the surging crowd And the heat of the blistered plain. And some there be of the swarming host In the thick of fight shall rise, While some will faint ere the sun swing out On the march of the morning skies, And some will forge to the foremost rank By the right of might preferred, While some will plod in the listless way Of the undistinguished herd. A campus stroll and a parting pledge To the wistful Auburn lass, A college song and a college yell And a clinking farewell glass, A health to him of the mighty arm In the ranks with us to-day. Then ofT to war in the battling world With a rousing hip-hooray! 20 The \7\\'i]\ Roses RED Rose bloomed on the stateliest stem In a garden of Orient grace, And no prince of the realm was more courtly than he Of the ruddy and velvety face. For he bowed with the wind to the homeliest maid, To the proudest and lowliest there, Though ever in fragrance his heart went out To the halt-blown White Rose near. ■^ .^ ^ But oft as the Red Rose bent to the White With the weight of tlie whispering wind, As a maiden who won't, though she will in the end. Was the White still lower inclined. Till her breath fanned the cheek of a Yellow gallant Quite gorgeous in habit of green. Then the Red Rose glared and the Yellow Rose smiled. With the White Rose hanging between. ■^ ^ ^ Now the hate of the Red for the Yellow grew fierce As the heat of a tropical sun. And it burned to the core of his hungering heart Till the day of his glory was done. Then the White Rose, spreading her petals at last. With a smile looked up at the Red; But in vain was the token her action bespoke. For the soul of her lover had fled. 21 And the Yellow Rose saw in the Rose Maid's act The deceit of his own sweet dream, And the light of his life went out with the day In a far, faint westering gleam. Then as soft as a whisper the night wind sighed. And the petals of Yellow and Red Went fluttering down in the union of fate To the common abode of the dead. ^ .^ <^ Then the White Rose wept through the whole night long And saluted the opening morn With the tear-wet face of a sorrowing maid Who is loveless and all forlorn; And, undone by the heat of the withering sun. She rejoiced in the shadows of night. When she covered the petals of Yellow and Red With a virgin atonement of White. \X'l\ci\ Lo\'c Saw Durij CIcorlij wo narrow ways by merging lines Approached the land of Beauty. The one, all bowered. Love pursued; The other, open. Duty. ® ® ® And Love was laughing, tripping on. With maiden thoughts beguiling The tedious miles to Beauty land Where Sweetheart Hope was smiling, ® ® ® While Duty walked with measured tread, By long, unhalting paces, As one who looks nor right nor left. But forward ever faces. ® ® ® At length a sound arrested Love, And, through the tangle peering. She spied the form of Duty there. The fateful juncture nearing. ® ® ® In fear she halted, crouching low Beside the fragrant brambles. As Duty paused to view the land Of restful, shady rambles. 23 Then Love sped on; but Duty, too, As if by instinct started. Love tliouglit to stop: the thought at once To Duty was imparted. ® S ® For, through the tangle, tearful Love Saw Duty only dimly — A fierce, relentless, monstrous thing. Blear-eyed and leering grimly. ® ® ® At last in anger Love rushed on, Resolved on sheer defiance. If that should fail, there still was choice Of death before compliance. S® ® She reached the fateful meeting place. And stood a moment trembling, Then nerved herself to face her foe Her passion ill dissembling. ® ® ® But, lo! his look, though firm, was mild. And even kindly seeming. Above his lofty, handsome head The light of peace was streaming. ® ® ® Then Love, discerning, true to self. Stretched out her hand to Duty, And, leaning on his arm. went forth Into the land of Beauty. 24 ^^^^"^^5^, ;?^nizettc. |She can roll a cigarette (And smoke it bravely, too, you b( Pretty dashing Anizette. Times unnumbered we have sat Where Bohemians gather "at" For a hot dyspeptic lunch, Cigarettes and steaming punch. Ah, my sprightly Anizette iyV., The way you roll a cigaj^tte Xy;,- And lick the tissue edges wet/ ■'-' And smoke it jauntily, you \x4 jili!, Is,4ivid in my memory yet — IL", i'j^m (silent, smiling silhouette. ' ; U^ '..■■■■ ■ ' ff'Ji )me day in my castle hall, with one beside who's all in all, 1 shall sup on quail and "sec," f -/jlffl Jyith servants at my slightest beck. lijMii-^i.y- ■. ;,; T'livs in dreamy silhouette , V-^ .■?A'i''i',&' my dainty girly pet P.^^\ dtfw my dainty gu-ly pet, ■V-^,j;,«i.2'Ssj|^-<'- V,Sif:?5,Who will roU my cigarette ■■■^tS^''/^^^|i^^^^^^ '^ % And lick the tissue edges wet^-t V_^_^" ^^ CI But she zc