[Lady Jag]

To James Whitcomb Riley

Your trail runs to the westward, And mine to my own place; There is water between our lodges, And I have not seen your face. But since I have read your verses 'Tis easy to guess the rest,-- Because in the hearts of the children There is neither East nor West. Born to a thousand fortunes Of good or evil hap, Once they were kings together, Throned in a mother's lap. Surely they know that secret-- Yellow and black and white-- When they meet as kings together In innocent dreams at night. By a moon they all can play with-- Grubby and grimed and unshod, Very happy together, And very near to God. Your trail runs to the westward, And mine to my own place: There is water between our lodges, And you cannot see my face.-- And that is well--for crying Should neither be written nor seen, But if I call you Smoke-in-the-Eyes, I know you will know what I mean. Rudyard Kipling

[JustAmy]

Beautiful poem and lovely graphic, Lady J.

Thank you for all of your funny, cute beautiful contributions.

[yorkie]

Here is Riley's reply to Kipling.

TO RUDYARD KIPLING

To do some worthy deed of charity
In secret and then have it found out by
Sheer accident, held gentle Elia -
That - that was the best thing beneath the sky!
Confirmed in part, yet somewhat differing
(Grant that his gracious wraith will pardon me
If impious!) - I think a better thing
Is: being found out when one strives to be,
So, Poet and Romancer - old as young
And wise as artless -masterful as mild -
If there be sweet in any song I've sung,
‘Twas savored for the palate, O my child!
For thee, the lisping of the children all -
For thee the youthful voices of old years -
For thee all chords untamed or musical -
For thee the laughter, and for thee the tears.
“And thus, borne to me o'er the seas between
Thy land and mine, thy song of certain wing
Circles above me in the ‘’pure serene”
Of our high heaven's vast o'er-welcoming:
While, pocketed with joy and thankfulness,
‘And fair hopes many as the stars that shine,
And bearing off love's loyal messages,
Mine own goes homing back to thee and thine.”