Alas.

He led her out across the sand,
    And by her side did sit:
He asked to hold her little hand,
    She sweetly answered, "Nit."

Edwin C. Ranck

Edwin C. Ranck was an American lyricist noted for his work in the early 20th century. He was a prolific writer and his lyrics were often characterized by their humor and wit. One of his standout works is the poem 'The Optimist', which reflects his positive outlook on life. Beyond that, little is known about his personal life or career. He remains a somewhat obscure figure in literary history.

Edwin C. Ranck

The War Of The Rats And Mice.

Edwin C. Ranck, Simple Poetry

O'Dowd Of The Jefferson Club.

Edwin C. Ranck, Simple Poetry

The Lobster.

Edwin C. Ranck, Simple Poetry

A Hand-Me-Down.

Edwin C. Ranck, Simple Poetry

English

Suggested Poems

Explore a curated selection of verses that share themes, styles, and emotional resonance with the poem you've just read.

He Aped Her.

An impudent Barbary ape
    Once tried on a lady's new cape.
As he gave a big grin,
    The lady came in,
And--his children are still wearing crepe.

Edwin C. Ranck

Sunstroke

Oh, straight, white road that runs to meet,
    Across green fields, the blue green sea,
You knew the little weary feet
    Of my child bride that was to be!

Her people brought her from the shore
    One golden day in sultry June,
And I stood, waiting, at the door,
    Praying my eyes might see her soon.

With eager arms, wide open thrown,
    Now never to be satisfied!
Ere I could make my love my own
    She closed her amber eyes and died.

Alas! alas! they took no heed
    How frail she was, my little one,
But brought her here with cruel speed
    Beneath the fierce, relentless sun.

We laid her on the marriage bed
    The bridal flowers in her hand,
A maiden from the ocean led
    Only, alas! to die inland.

I w...

Adela Florence Cory Nicolson

You Couldn't Hardly Notice It At All.

There was a girl in our town
    Who dearly loved to flirt,
But the home folks never noticed it at all.
    The women in the neighborhood
All said she was too pert,
    But she never even noticed them at all.

One night a young man came to call
    Who was considered slow,
But when he got alone with her,
    He turned the lights down low.
He begged her for a little kiss,
    She softly murmured "No,"
But you couldn't hardly notice it at all.

Edwin C. Ranck

Vitascope Pictures.

A young girl stands
    Upon the sands,
And waves her hands--
    Flirtation.

A fresh young man
    With shoes of tan,
Looks spick and span--
    Expectation.

They walk the beach,
    She seems a peach
Just out of reach--
    Vexation.

Ah what is this?
    A sound of bliss
A kiss, a kiss--
    Elation.

A father lean
    Upon the scene,
Looks awful mean--
    (Curtain.)

Edwin C. Ranck

A Hardship.

I never saw a loaf of bread
    Conspicuous in its purity,
But that I sadly shook my head
    And left five-cents as surety.

Edwin C. Ranck

Tale Of Three Cities.

A seedy young man in Savanah
    Fell in love with a rich girl named Anna,
But her papa got mad
    And swore that "By Gad,
The fellow shall never Havana!"

But the couple eloped to Caracas,
    Where the Germans kicked up such a fracas;
And he said to his wife,
    "You can bet your sweet life
That papa dear never will track us."

Edwin C. Ranck