Living

To Lesley

by James Whitcomb Riley 1849–1916

From The Old Soldier's Story (1915)

Living

Burns sang of bonny Lesley
As she gaed o'er the border,--
Gaed like vain Alexander,
To spread her conquests farther.

I sing another Lesley,
Wee girlie, more alluring,
Who stays at home, the wise one,
Her conquests there securing.

A queen, too, is my Lesley,
And gracious, though blood-royal,
My heart her throne, her kingdom,
And I a subject loyal.

Long shall you reign, my Lesley,
My pet, my darling dearie,
For love, oh, little sweetheart,
Grows never old or weary.

MLA

Riley, James Whitcomb. “To Lesley.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/riley/499/.

Chicago

Riley, James Whitcomb. “To Lesley.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/riley/499/.

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