Once on a Time

From the Albuquerque Morning Journal, January 31, 1915. By Kendall Banning.

Once on a time, once on a time,
    Before the Dawn began,
There was a nymph of Dian’s train
    Who was beloved of Pan;
Once on a time a peasant lad
    Who loved a lass at home;
Once on a time a Saxon king
    Who loved a queen of Rome.

The world has but one song to sing,
    And it is ever new.
The first and last of all the songs,
    For it is ever true—
A little song, a tender song,
    The only song it hath;
“There was a youth of Ascalon
    Who loved a girl of Gath.”

A thousand thousand years have gone,
    And aeons still shall pass,
Yet shall the world forever sing
    Of him who loved a lass—
An olden song, a golden song,
    And sing it unafraid:
“There was a youth, once on a time,
    Who dearly loved a maid.”