Poets Made in Missouri

(A course in writing poetry is to be established at the University of Missouri – News)

O the golden chance awaiting

     Poets born this latter day!

Or the generations wanting

     To be poets, I should say.

O the goodness of Missouri,

     Where they soon will have a school

That will make a first class poet

     Of a scholar or a fool!

How the poets used to struggle,

     Writing verses at the plough!

How they wrought, the odds against ‘em,

     But it will be easy now.

College doc’s, then why not poets?

     Greatest scheme I ever heard;

Poets simply built to order –

     O, Missouri, you’re a bird!

Feb. 2, 1910