Living

Evensong

by James Whitcomb Riley 1849–1916

From The Book of Joyous Children (1902)

Living

Lay away the story,--
Though the theme is sweet,
There's a lack of something yet,
Leaves it incomplete:--
There's a nameless yearning--
Strangely undefined--
For a story sweeter still
Than the written kind.

Therefore read no longer--
I've no heart to hear
But just something you make up,
O my mother dear.--
With your arms around me,
Hold me, folded-eyed,--
Only let your voice go on--
I'll be satisfied.

MLA

Riley, James Whitcomb. “Evensong.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/riley/328/.

Chicago

Riley, James Whitcomb. “Evensong.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/riley/328/.

Read this poem with the Codex →

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