The Good Night Kiss

From the Grand Forks Daily Herald, February 25, 1915. By W. D. Humphrey.

I am tired of tongues that are lying
    In their cunning schemes for gain—
I am tired of worry and sighing
    That ravish the soul and brain—
And I long for the peace of the wildwood
    Near the dear old home that I miss,
And the happy trust of childhood,
    And mother’s good night kiss.

I am tired of faces smiling
    In deceit to hide the frown—
And life’s false joys beguiling
    The soul but to drag it down;
And I long once more to listen
    To the sound of a step I miss—
That I knew when the tears would glisten
    At my mother’s good night kiss.

I am tired of all the idols
    That claim a right to my heart—
I am tired of falsehoods’ bridles
    That are worn by all in the mart.
And it’s ever the words that were spoken
    In truth and love that I miss—
When each night I received their token
    In my mother’s good night kiss.

I am tired of living and learning
    That the false exceeds the true—
I am tired with years of yearning
    For a love like my childhood knew
When life seemed not deceiving,
    And I dreamed it held but bliss—
When I slept in peace believing
    In mother’s good night kiss.