John Jerome Rooney

  • [The Spanish-American War, 1898]
    A CHEER and salute for the Admiral, and here ’s to the Captain bold,
    And never forget the Commodore’s debt when the deeds of might are told!
    They stand to the deck through the battle’s wreck when the great shells roar and screech—
    ...

  • A Beam of light, from the infinite depths of the midnight sky,
    Painted with infinite love a star in a convict’s eye;
    When, lo! the ghosts of his sins were afraid and fled with a curse,
    And the soul of the man walked free in the fields of the universe!

  • Upon Nirwána’s brink the ráhat stood;
      Beneath him rolled the Ocean of the All:
    Responsive flowed the current of his blood
      To meet the tidal call—

    Save one red drop within his mortal veins
      Wherein the image of Zuleika shone;
    He gazed a...

  • Where Helen comes, as falls the dew,
    Where Helen comes Peace cometh too!
    From out the golden, western lands,
    White lilies blooming in her lands,
    A light of beauty in her face,
    She passeth on with nameless grace.
    Before her fly the shades of life—...

  • A Cheer and salute for the Admiral, and here ’s to the Captain bold,
    And never forget the Commodore’s debt when the deeds of might are told!
    They stand to the deck through the battle’s wreck when the great shells roar and screech—
    And never they fear when the foe is near...

  • Admiral, Admiral, sailing home—
        Sailing home through the far, dim seas,
    Know you the sound that over the foam
        Rises and sinks in the sunset breeze?

    Know you the thrill and know you the start
        That pulses and runs through the wind and the spray...

  • Says stonewall Jackson to “Little Phil:” “Phil, have you heard the news?
    Why, our ‘Joe’ Wheeler—‘Fighting Joe’—has gone and joined the blues.

    “Ay, no mistake—I saw him come—I heard the oath he took—
    And you ’ll find it duly entered up in yon great Record Book.

    ...