To Our "Merry Chanter"
TO OUR "MERRY CHANTER."
(FRANK R. STOCKTON. DIED APRIL 20, 1902.)
BY JULIE M. LIPPMANN.
HIS ship of fancy flew the flag
Of godly mirth and banter.
No sounder sail e'er breasted gale
Than owned our Merry Chanter.
Its hold was stored with priceless freight—
Pure humor, fun capricious;
Beneath the cheer there lurked no sneer,
Cold, cynical, malicious.
It spurred the bitter tang of brine,
It plumbed no no depths of trouble;
It rode the sea as light and free
As it had been a bubble.
Its course was ever clear and true,
Its steersman loved bold faring.
Where is one now to point a prow
With such delightful daring?
Dear Captain of a craft we love,
In life you led our laughter;
Now you have passed into the Vast,
Our tears fain follow after.
This work is in the public domain in the United States because it was published before January 1, 1929.
This work may be in the public domain in countries and areas with longer native copyright terms that apply the rule of the shorter term to foreign works.
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