Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, FRED PERRY, by CARROLL RYAN



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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

FRED PERRY, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: At last, dear fred, our task is done
Last Line: Whose name was alfred perry.
Alternate Author Name(s): Ryan, William Thomas Carroll
Subject(s): Death; Friendship; Gratitude; Honor; Memory; Monuments; Dead, The


At last, dear Fred, our task is done,
And time has not been cheated;
If we can find a publisher,
The work will be completed.
'Twill be to you a monument,
Like that which stands at Verdun,—
The record of a life well spent,
A blessing and a guerdon.

The generations yet to be—
The coming race of sages—
Will think with gratitude of thee,
When studying its pages;
And say—"Behold. there was a man
Who knew all men as brothers,
Who followed out the God-like plan
Of doing good to others.

Deep, broad, and full his life appears,
Like our own noble river;
With all its days and all its years
Replete with high endeavor.
He strove for neither wealth nor fame,
Nor yet for smiles of beauty,
But all to him in fulness came,
Who nobly did his duty."

Thus, dear old Fred, will future times
Be still your friends and neighbors,
As I would with imperfect rhymes
Do justice to your labors.
However, let me, as I can,
Declare no time can bury
The mem'ry of a noble man—
Whose name was Alfred Perry.





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