In these rushful days an apology is advisable, if not absolutely essential,

From any man, save the one or two elect,

Who has the temerity to publish a volume of verse.

These stray lines, such as they are, have come to me from time to time,

I hardly know how or whence; certainly not deliberate intention or of malice aforethought.

More often then not they have come to the interruption of other, as it seemed to me, more important - and undoubtedly more profitable - work.

They are, for the most part, simply attempts at concrete and rememberable expression of ideas- ages-old most of them - which 'asked for more'.

If they please you - good! If not, there is no harm done, and one man is content.

-John Oxenham (1852-1941)