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1849–1916

PRIVATE THEATRICALS

James Whitcomb Riley

A quite convincing axiom Is, “Life is like a play”; For, turning back its pages some Few dog-eared years away,

I find where I Committed my Love-tale — with brackets where to sigh. I feel an idle interest

To read again the page; I enter, as a lover dressed, At twenty years of age, And play the part

With throbbing heart, And all an actor's glowing art. And she who plays my Lady-love Excels!— Her loving glance

Has power her audience to move — I am her audience.— Her acting tact, To tell the fact,

“Brings down the house” in every act. And often we defy the curse Of storms and thunder-showers, To meet together and rehearse

This little play of ours — I think, when she “Makes love” to me, She kisses very naturally!

Yes; it's convincing — rather — That “Life is like a play ": I am playing “Heavy Father” In a “Screaming Farce” to-day,

That so “brings down The house,” I frown, And fain would “ring the curtain down.”

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PRIVATE THEATRICALS · James Whitcomb Riley · Poetry Cove