A vagrant minstrel of the street, no poet of the laurel crown, I kneel, dear princess, at your feet, and lay my book of verses down. See all the love that lingers there, and so for love's sake find it fair. Preface Certain of the poems in this volume are repented by kind permission of the editors of the following magazines and newspapers. The Call, Harper's Weekly, The Independent, Moods, The Pathfinder, The New York Sun, and the Sunday Magazine of the New York Times. I am glad to acknowledge my debt of gratitude to my mother, Mrs. Kilburn Kilmer, for her encouragement and assistance in making this book. For sympathy and valuable advice, I am deeply obliged to many friends, particularly Mr. and Mrs. Henry Mills Alden and Mr. Robert Cortez Holliday. End of Preface Summer of Love by Joyce Kilmer Read for LibriVox .org by Larry Wilson June lavishes sweet -scented loveliness and sprinkles sun -filled wine on everything. The very leaves grow drunk with bliss and sing and every breeze becomes a soft caress. All earthly things felicity confess and fairies dance in many a moonlit ring. The fleet -foot hours fresh wealth of joyance bring. Life wears her gase rose embroidered dress. Kind June, why bear these golden gifts to me? All winter long I hear the throstle's tune. All winter long red roses I can see. Reading the Wild loves ancient magic room. It loves fair garden clothes. I wander free. So take your girdon elsewhere, lovely June. End of poem Villanelle of Love Land by Joyce Kilmer Read for LibriVox .org Love land is fair to see. Of all kind havens best. Dwell here, my sweet, with me. Here flowers bloom for thee. Thy feet are rose caressed. Love land is fair to see. The violets shall be thy soft and fragrant nest. Dwell here, my sweet, with me. Thou shalt not lack for glee. Here life is but a jest. Love land is fair to see. None shall be glad as we. Ah, grant me my behest. Dwell here, my sweet, with me. Now would I ask my fee. Thy red heart I request. Love land is fair to see. Dwell here, my sweet, with me. End of poem This recording is in the public domain. Thurifer Read for LibriVox .org by Raghav Dandi In a carven sense of burnished words, Swung on a golden chain of rhythm, For you I burn my heart. End of poem This recording is in the public domain. All day I serve among the volumes, Telling old tales of love and war and high romance. Good company, God what, is in them dwelling, Brave knights who dared to scorn untoward chance. King Arthur Sydney Copperfield The daring and friendly souls of Meredith's bright page. The pilgrim on his darksome journey faring. And Shakespeare's heroes, great in love and rage. Fair ladies too, hear Beatrice smiling. Through hell leads Dante to the happy stars. And Helwa, the cruel