Emily Chamberlain Cook Prize in Poetry

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1911. Excerpt: ... PREFATORY NOTE These poems received the ninth award of the Emily Chamberlain Cook Prize offered by Professor Albert Stanburrough Cook of Yale University to the University of California for the best unpublished verse submitted. The committee of award consisted of Professor R. W. Gordon of the University of California, Professor R. E. N. Dodge of the University of Wisconsin, and Mr. Charles Keeler of Berkeley, California. IN SUNLIT SPACES. SONG OF THE OPEN ROAD. The road is lyric toned today, The air is flower-sweet, And hills, on such a color day, Are quick with dancing feet; And flashing wings, now winter-freed, Have eager grown, and fleet. VAGABOND SONG. Because I have so few of goodly things That money brings, perchance the world is bold To scoff at me, because in lacking gold, I could not hope to know the joy life brings. But O! I have a heart that gaily sings, And feet that swiftly dance, and wealth untold, For I have eyes to catch and soul to hold The gold of sunsets and the jewels of springs. And I find gems in all the stars that shine; And dazzling diamonds strung on spider's lace; And glistening silver on the water's face; And full red rubies sparkling on the vine.... I doubt if you, in any gilded place, Feel richer in your wealth than I in mine! WIND CALL. O! I would be most like the warm wind in spring, A fitful and a transient thing, That leaves a strange new whispering. Oh! wind that is harsh to the mild-hearted, And wind that is loved by the wild-hearted, Brief as your song is the one I would sing! THOUGHTS. Sometimes my thoughts are bright and strong, Like flowers on a stem, And I can deftly pass along And gather all of them. But other times they seem to be Such strange elusive things, They flash by, only leaving me The star-dust from their ...