Living

The Old Times Were the Best

by James Whitcomb Riley 1849–1916

From The Complete Works of James Whitcomb Riley, Memorial Edition, Vol. I (1916)

Living

Friends, my heart is half aweary
Of its happiness to-night:
Though your songs are gay and cheery,
And your spirits feather-light,
There's a ghostly music haunting
Still the heart of every guest
And a voiceless chorus chanting
That the Old Times were the best.

CHORUS

All about is bright and pleasant
With the sound of song and jest,
Yet a feeling's ever present
That the Old Times were the best.

MLA

Riley, James Whitcomb. “The Old Times Were the Best.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/riley/529/.

Chicago

Riley, James Whitcomb. “The Old Times Were the Best.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/riley/529/.

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