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1849–1916

AUTOGRAPHIC

James Whitcomb Riley

I feel, if aught I ought to rhyme, I ought‘ a’ thought a longer time, And ought‘ a’ caught a higher sense, Of autocratic eloquence.

I ought‘ a’ sought each haughty Muse That taught a thought I ought to use, And fought and fraught, and so devised A poem unmonotonized.—

But since all this was vain, I thought I ought to simply say,— I ought To thank you, as I ought to do, And ought to bow my best to you;

And ought to trust not to intrude A rudely wrought-up gratitude, But ought to smile, and ought to laugh, And ought to write — an autograph.

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AUTOGRAPHIC · James Whitcomb Riley · Poetry Cove