On his "Book of Joyous Children" <br /> <br />Yours is a garden of old-fashioned flowers; <br />Joyous children delight to play there; <br />Weary men find rest in its bowers, <br />Watching the lingering light of day there. <br /> <br />Old-time tunes and young love's laughter <br />Ripple and run among the roses; <br />Memory's echoes, murmuring after, <br />Fill the dusk when the long day closes. <br /> <br />Simple songs with a cadence olden-- <br />These you learned in the Forest of Arden: <br />Friendly flowers with hearts all golden-- <br />These you borrowed from Eden's garden. <br /> <br />This is the reason why all men love you; <br />Truth to life is the charm of art: <br />Other poets may soar above you-- <br />You keep close to the human heart.<br /><br />Henry Van Dyke<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/to-james-whitcomb-riley/
