Classic Poem

Of Schooners, Islands, and Maroons,
And Buccaneers and Buried Gold,
And Torches red and rising moons,
If all the old romance retold
Exactly in the ancient way,
Can please, as me they pleased of old,
The wiser youngster of to-day—
So be it, and fall on! If not,—
If all the boys on better things
Have set their spirits and forgot—
So be it, and fall on! If not—
If all the boys on solid food
Have set their fancies, and forgot
Kingston and Ballantyne the brave
And Cooper of the land and wave,
So be it also; and may I
And my late-born piratic brood
Unread beside the ancients lie!
So be it and fall on! If not,—
If studied youth no longer crave,—
Their ancient's appetites forgot,—
Kingston and Ballantyne the brave,
For Cooper of the sea and wood—
So be it also; and may I
And all my pirates share the grave
Where these and their creations lie.