He had been a pioneer of songwrting <br />And the music business <br />A songwriter before his time <br />Before there was a music industry <br />13 years before sound recording began <br />Before copywrite laws protected his works <br />66 Years ahead of radio <br />He died heartbroken <br />Had lost his family <br />Had only 37 cents to his name <br />Had experienced success and decline <br />and in his pocket was found <br />Only these words on a scrap of paper <br />'Dear Friends and Gentle Hearts' <br />Stephen Foster <br />Beautiful Dreamer!<br /><br />JAMES T. ADAIR<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/dear-friends-and-gentle-hearts/
