The same Old Story

James Whitcomb Riley

1881

The same old story told again --
The maiden droops her head,
The ripening glow of her crimson cheek
Is answering in her stead.

The pleading tone of a trembling voice
Is telling her the way
He loved her when his heart was young
In Youth's sunshiny day:
The trembling tongue, the longing tone,
Imploringly ask why
They can not be as happy now
As in the days gone by.

And two more hearts, tumultuous
With overflowing joy,
Are dancing to the music
Which that dear, provoking boy
Is twanging on his bowstring,
As, fluttering his wings,
He sends his love-charged arrows
While merrily be sings:
"Ho! ho! my dainty maiden,
It surely can not be
You are thinking you are master
Of your heart, when it is me."

And another gleaming arrow
Does the little god's behest,
And the dainty little maiden
Falls upon her lover's breast.

"The same old story told again,"

And listened o'er and o'er,
Will still be new, and pleasing, too,
Till "Time shall be no more. "

End of title