| Publication information |
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Source: The Complete Works of James Whitcomb Riley Source type: book Document type: poem Document title: “Even as a Child” Author(s): Riley, James Whitcomb Edition: Memorial edition Volume number: 8 Publisher: Harper and Brothers Publishers Place of publication: New York, New York Year of publication: 1916 Pagination: 2002 |
| Citation |
| Riley, James Whitcomb. “Even as a Child.” The Complete Works of James Whitcomb Riley. Memorial ed. Vol. 8. New York: Harper and Brothers, 1916: p. 2002. |
| Transcription |
| full text |
| Keywords |
| William McKinley (death: poetry). |
| Named persons |
| none. |
| Notes |
| From title page: The Complete Works of James Whitcomb Riley: Including Poems and Prose Sketches, Many of Which Have Not Heretofore Been Published; An Authentic Biography, an Elaborate Index and Numerous Illustrations in Color from Paintings by Howard Chandler Christy and Ethel Franklin Betts. |
| Document |
Even as a Child
EVEN as a child to whom sad neighbors speak
In symbol, saying that his father “sleeps”—
Who feels their meaning, even as his cheek
Feels the first tear-drop as it stings and leaps—
Who keenly knows his loss, and yet denies
Its awful import—grieves unreconciled,
Moans, drowses—rouses, with new-drowning eyes—
Even as a child.Even as a child; with empty, aimless hand
Clasped sudden to the heart all hope deserts—
With tears that blur all lights on sea or land—
The lip that quivers and the throat that hurts:
Even so, the Nation that has known his love
Is orphaned now; and, whelmed in anguish wild
Knows but its sorrow and the ache thereof,
Even as a child.