But stay! or ever that I start to sing, Or e'er I loose my fine poetic forces, I ought, I think, to do the decent thing, To wit: give credit to my many sources: Barnes's "Brief History of the U. S. A.," Bryce, Ridpath, Scudder, Fiske, J. B. McMaster, A book of odes, a Webster, a Roget-- The bibliography of this poetaster.
Flow, flow, my pen, as gently as sweet Afton ever flowed! An thou dost ill, shall this be still a poor thing, but mine ode.
G. W., initial prex, Right down in Wall Street, New York City, Took his first oath. Oh, multiplex The whimsies quaint, the comments witty One might evolve from that! I scorn To mock the spot where he was sworn.
On next Inauguration Day He took the avouchment sempiternal Way down in Phil-a-delph-i-a, Where rises now the L. H. Journal. His Farewell Speech in '96 Said: "'Ware the Trusts and all their tricks!"
John Adams fell on darksome days: March Fourth was blustery and sleety; The French behaved in horrid ways Until John Jay drew up a treaty. Came the Eleventh Amendment, too, Providing that--but why tell _you_?
T. Jefferson, one history showed, Held all display was vain and idle; Alone, unpanoplied, he rode; Alone he hitched his horse's bridle. No ball that night, and no carouse, But back to Conrad's boarding house.
He tied that bridle to the fence The morning of inauguration; John Davis saw him do it; whence Arose his "simple" reputation. The White House, though, with Thomas J., Had chefs--and parties every day.
If I were you I think I'd change my medium; I weary of your meter and your style. The sameness of it sickens me to tedium; I'll quit unless you switch it for a while.
I bow to thee, my Muse, most eloquent of pleaders; But why embarrass me in front of all these readers?
Madison's inauguration Was a lovely celebration. In a suit of wool domestic Rode he, stately and majestic, Making it be manifest Clothes American are best. This has thundered through the ages. (See our advertising pages.)
Lightly I pass along, and so Come to the terms of James Monroe Who framed the doctrine far too well Known for an odist to retell. His period of friendly dealing Began The Era of Good Feeling.
John Quincy Adams followed him in Eighteen Twenty-four; Election was exciting--the details I shall ignore. But his inauguration as our country's President Was, take it from McMaster, some considerable event. It was a brilliant function, and I think I ought to add The Philadelphia "Ledger" said a gorgeous time was had.