 Introduction and Preface to Daydreams by Rudolf Valentino. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Recording by Chuck Williamson. Daydreams by Rudolf Valentino. I cannot tell a roundelay in words of yesterday. I cannot tell a couplet, for words come as they may. I'll do my best, I'll try a bit, of ultra-modern rhyme, and cast aside the shackles, binding once upon a time. Preface. To you, my gentle reader, I wish to say a foreword of warning before you peruse the contents of this book. I am not a poet nor a scholar. Therefore, you shall find neither poems nor prose, just dreams, daydreams, a bit of romance, a bit of sentimentalism, a bit of philosophy, not studied but acquired by constant observation of that greatest of masters. Nature. While lying idle, not through choice, but because forcefully kept from my preferred an actual field of activity, I took to dreams to forget the tediousness of worldly strife, and the boredom of jurisprudence's pedantic etiquette. Happy indeed I shall be if my daydreams will bring you as much enjoyment in the reading as they brought me in the writing. Rudolf Valentino. New York, May 29, 1923. End of Introduction and Preface. The Gift Book by Rudolf Valentino. Read for LibriVox.org by Larry Wilson. A book is a kindly gracious thing. Each has a particular gift to bring. It may be the wealth of a wonderful life, or the filling adventure of jungle strife. Perhaps it's a present of orient gold, tales of the laden enchantingly told. Maybe a view of olden days, knighthood, romance, flowery ways. And again a journey to lands afar where strange things happen, and wonders are. All of them gift books, but plainly I see not one of them holds the gift for me. I want a book that will lazily roam down the dear pathway to folks back home. End of Poem. This recording is in the public domain. Nature by Rudolf Valentino. Read for LibriVox.org by Helen Ferrara for Jean. Nature. Nature is the open book wherein the truths of the world are found. Nature is an endless story of never changing glory. When you study nature you teach your sky, so always let your reverence be this greatest of masters. End of poem. This recording is in the public domain. The Love Child by Rudolf Valentino. Read for LibriVox.org by Josh Kibbe. To Be. Don Juan roamed the summer sky, a shady cloud of gray, but this dull attire hit a heart of fire in quest of romance stray. Vision, a lovely golden sunbeam shining from above, came radiant by, and caught the eye of this vagabond of love. Delusion. In wild tempestuous wooing, he kissed her heart away, all in a jest it was the quest of the cloud on a summer's day. Conclusion. Through tears the sunbeam glimmered, then happily she smiled, the tempest passed alone at last, with a little rainbow child. Don runs in a crimson streak across the leaden sky, just like a pulsing vein of life, an artery of love not strife, and it livens the heavens high. So in our sky today it seems, no sign of life we see. Do we not know, night's bound to go, Don follows instantly. For we're not for the showers, where would the rainbows be? End of poem. This recording is in the public domain. Heart Flower by Rudolf Valentino. Read for LibriVox.org by Larry Wilson. Oh lovely rose within whose chalice lies the heart of my true love. Did not the gods in benediction stoop to bless thee from above? And place within thy rosy eight lips the rubies counterpart. I find it there, a jewel rare, the flower of thy heart. End of poem. This recording is in the public domain. Heart Flower by Rudolf Valentino. Read for LibriVox.org You, your eyes, your eyes, mystic pools of beautiest light, golden brown in color deep, yet amber clear, unshadowed by a frown, fathomless wherein my senses drown. Your eyes, your lips, your lips, twin silken petals of a dewy rose, altar of the heart where love, kindling desire, worships unafraid, crucible of passion, the rose in masquerade. Your lips, your kiss, your kiss, a flame of passion's fire, the sensitive seal of love in the desire, the fragrance of your caress. Alas, at times I find exquisite bitterness in your kiss. End of poem. This recording is in the public domain. Daydreams by Rudolf Valentino. Read for LibriVox.org by Larry Wilson. To the friend. Yesterday, in contemplation, we dreamed of love to be, and in the dreaming, woven tapestry of love. Today, we dream our dreams awake, realization coloring our romance with all the glory of a flaming rose. Tomorrow, what awakening lies before us, our tapestry in shreds perchance, or a mellowed glorified by love's reflection. I wonder, in the poem this recording is in the public domain. Suspicion by Rudolf Valentino. Read for LibriVox.org by Thomas Peter. There crossed the path of my dream of you, a gossamer web of grey, so soft its sheen, almost unseen, but it stopped me on my way. Like a cold, grey granite battlement it walled me all about, for a cruel steel was in the feel of the silken web of doubt. End of poem. This recording is in the public domain. The Sage by Rudolf Valentino. Read for LibriVox.org by Larry Wilson. To him. O gladness shining bravely from out the eyes of youth. Be strong in your belief of good, of valor, and of truth. For soon enough, too soon enough, the gladdest light meets doubt. Then flickers, flutters just a bit, but doesn't quite go out. O sadness peering divinely from out the eyes of age. Be strong in your belief of good, to youth still be the sage. For soon enough, too soon enough, the saddest light in doubt flickers, flutters, flickers, and finally goes out. End of poem. This recording is in the public domain. Morphia by Rudolf Valentino. Read for LibriVox.org by Josh Kibbe. I am the ingrate Morphia. You hold the brimming cup of your life to me, a thirst of my, and drink my fill of strength until the cup is drained dry. Then, satisfied, I care no more. The cup I cast away crunched beneath my heel. It's do my seal as I walk on my way. End of poem. This recording is in the public domain. Domino by Rudolf Valentino. Read for LibriVox.org. Domino. Passions cloak. An ashy thing to wear. Covering the shroud of love that once was fair. What gruesome imagery does this convey to me? Grim death. It's self no gaslier a thing than this could ever be. End of poem. This recording is in the public domain. The Sphinx by Rudolf Valentino. Read for LibriVox.org by Josh Kibbe. To BH. Oh Sphinx, a monument to man. Built by his hands of clay, you symbolize the power of might used in an earthy way. Yesterday, you stood for man's symbolic strength sublime. Today, you all but buried are beneath the sands of time. Oh wondrous mountain, living Sphinx. Built by the hand of God, you symbolize the power of love used with the lowly sod. Yesterday, a symbol of divinity sublime. Today, you lift your rugged head untouched by hands of time. Oh Sphinx, a monument to man. Built by his hand of clay, you symbolize the power of might used in an earthy way. Yesterday, you and grandeur stood alone. Today, you're mingling with the sand a rotting mass of stone. Oh wondrous mountain, living Sphinx. Built by the hand of God, you symbolize the power of love used with the lowly sod. Yesterday, you stood a monument of love. Today, unchanged your glorious face in worship turned above. End of poem. This recording is in the public domain. Strativarius by Rudolf Valentino Read for Librebox.org by Larry Wilson To Joshua Heifetz If power were only given me to paint the tone picture that arises from the soul of that sanctuary of sound, your violin, where I should find pigment worthy of such a use, save in the fleeting splendor of some sky, wear a brush, save in a snowy feather from the shining wing of an archangel, where the canvas save across the dream memory of one who heard and was blessed by the hearing. End of poem. This recording is in the public domain. Extravaganza by Rudolf Valentino Read for Librebox.org by Thomas Peter Extravaganza. The very word is vulgar. Still vulgarity is necessary to development, for even a weed growing in a swamp can sometimes be cultivated into a hot houseplant. Take an orchid not under its own surroundings, but dress it by putting it in a proper receptacle and what a difference. But outside of beauty, what have you? If we could only combine the beauty of an orchid with the soul of a weed, we would get an improvement in the orchid, for real weeds are grateful enough to spring up between cobblestones, even to be trampled upon. Rather be a blade of grass that knows the heartbeats of Mother Earth than the potted plant which is pampered and only restored to a semblance of life. End of poem. This recording is in the public domain. Mirage by Rudolf Valentino Read for Librebox.org Mirage. Happiness. You wait for us just beyond, just beyond. We know not where nor how we shall find you. We only know you are waiting, waiting just beyond. End of poem. This recording is in the public domain. Glorification by Rudolf Valentino Read for Librebox.org Recording by Chuck Williamson Glorification to WW The arms of the earth broke through the sod and clenched his fist in derision. For clay knows not the might of God. It has but earthy vision. The finger of God wrote in the sky a sign of mighty fire. Reach up to me, for I am life. But earth could reach no higher. With strength of muscle, with might in man, earth struggled and then defied. But God stretched forth his hand of love, and earth was glorified. End of poem. This recording is in the public domain. Remembrance by Rudolf Valentino Read for Librebox.org To M.O. An infant memory, a tiny fragile thing, called into being by the brush of a colored wing across the campus of my tired mind. It grows a lovely picture of the past I find you, going to full a stature of the perfect soul. The tiny sheltered memory has reached at last its goal. End of poem. This recording is in the public domain. Three Generations of Kisses To M.K. By Rudolf Valentino Read for Librebox.org A mother's kisses are blessed with love, straight from the heart of heaven above. Love's benediction, her dear caress, the sum of all our happiness. Till we kiss the lips of the mate of our soul, we never know love has reached its goal. Caress divine, you reign until. A baby's kiss seems sweeter still. That beloved bosom, a baby's face, seems to be love's resting place. And a million kisses tenderly linger there in ecstasy. Were I told to select just one kiss a day, oh what a puzzle I would say. Still a baby's kiss I'd choose, you see. For in that wise choice I'd gain all three. End of poem. This recording is in the public domain. A Baby Skin. By Rudolf Valentino Read for Librebox.org by Matthew Ryan Ross MatthewRyanRoss.com A Baby Skin Texture of a Butterfly's Wing Colored like a dawned rose Whose perfume is the breath of God Such is the web wherein is held The treasure of the treasure chest The priceless gift The child of love End of poem. This recording is in the public domain. Gratitude by Rudolf Valentino Read for Librebox.org by Larry Wilson To A.T. The oleander blooms for me And donnings splendorous beauty. I planted it so tenderly And love has done its duty. All in a garden of the earth All in a plot of ground Wherein I found no bit of work The seed I planted in the ground. O tiny seed almost unworthy To be cherished for thy looks. But deep within the heart of you Was wisdom never found in books. You are the spirit of the good, The joy, the beauty of all things. You are the melody of life, The song that Mother Nature sings. And so to that sweet lullaby You, in your perfumed cradle, Rest safe in the arms of Mother Earth, Held closely to her loving breast. Until one happy wondrous day When love so tenderly do nigh Lifted your tiny hand of green And turned your face toward the sky. The oleander blooms for me In donning splendorous beauty. I planted it so tenderly And love has done its duty. In the poem This recording is in the public domain. Shadows by Rudolph Valentino Wrath for LibriVox.org By Thomas Peter Shadows grey symbol of a broken faith. We cling to hope In hope we find the symbol Of a broken heart. Shadows grey bleak gosmer web Of what once was woven round my heart. We slink within thy domain The land of shadows For still we hope But knowing always That a broken faith Can never be restored To more than it was A shadow. End of poem This recording is in the public domain. Accusation by Rudolph Valentino Wrath for LibriVox.org By Larry Wilson Out of a shadow corner Comes a phantom of the past To confuse me and accuse me For a vain iconic last. To chide me and deride me In a seething scornful blast To cheat me and defeat me Conscience crucifies at last. End of poem This recording is in the public domain. Even song by Rudolph Valentino Wrath for LibriVox.org By Larry Wilson I sing a song to the sapphire sky That curtains a sleeping earth. I sing a song to the stars on high That Mark a jewel's worth. My feeble voice, so weak it sounds A puny earthy cry Yet when its echo comes to me Angelic voice in harmony I know it is not high. It was belief that gave it a wing. That weakling voice of mine Encouraged it where angels sing God's melody divine. End of poem This recording is in the public domain. Little gypsies of the city Little sparrows mors the pity Homeless, heedless of the weather Happy, banding all together Never giving thought to trouble Never seeing evil double Would that we who proudly mention Every honorable intention to the world With trumpet-blaring, could Like sparrows, take uncaring All the little earthly struggles Cast them gypsy-like aside And fly happily and gladly All about earth's countryside. Why do the birds chant the Psalm of glory? Only because they alone are Free-throated and unafraid. Do they realize the danger In the slingshot of civilization? No, they are only conscious Of the joy within. Why sing of joy, if joy Is to be unheard? Why sing of faith, if faith Is to be barred? For all that is good Is forever alive, and all That is bad is dead before It be born. End of poem. This recording is in the public domain. The Carrier to J.K. By Rudolph Valentino Read for LibriVox.org By Matthew Ryan Ross MatthewRyanRoss.com The Carrier to J.K. A poor little messenger Clad in gray sent As a go-between, they say. Took a betrayal Under its wing, and guarded And cherished the slimy thing. We speak of glory And trust and men. But that is all forgotten When We send this softly feathered bird With messages best left unheard. Oh, what a mockery Cross the sky! The dove is sent To act as spy. End of poem. This recording is in the public domain. The School of Life By Rudolph Valentino Read for LibriVox.org By Matthew Ryan Ross MatthewRyanRoss.com The School of Life To M. Lives are classes. We are pupils with excellent teachers. Experience Should tutor us. But we so often shirk school. School can be made happy. And we delight in making A higher grade. But through not heeding experiences teaching We often are left back In the old class. And sometimes, sad to relate, Are put several grades lower. But, happily, There is always the opportunity Of skipping many grades upward. It's a poor rule that doesn't Work both ways. The mind is the grade we work in. We can have majestic thoughts Living in a hermit's hut. Or we can think as a swine In a palace on a throne of gold. Let us choose our station. Kingly children Or swine herds. Eternity is the empire. End of poem. This recording is in the public domain. The Wanton By Rudolph Valentino Read for LibriVox.org Recording by Nicalia Schwartz The Wanton To love save that which mockery was No heart save that of stone A multitude for ever hers Alas not one alone. Craddled in the arms of many Not where to lay her weary head Fortune smiled held out her hand And struck the Wanton dead. End of poem. This recording is in the public domain. Slavery By Rudolph Valentino Read for LibriVox.org By Josh Kibbe To EAP Love I am a slave yet free as birds above Sold into bondage by the tender kiss of love Lust I am a slave in the rat trap of disgust Sold into bondage by the lured kiss of lust Hate I am a slave prisoned by the walls of fate Sold into bondage by the cruel kiss of hate Crime I am a slave behind the bars of time Sold into bondage by the leprous kiss of crime Death I am a slave no longer in my breath Given sight of freedom through the graciousness of death Still am I a slave in the hand of destiny Thought alone enslaved me And thought alone can free. End of poem. This recording is in the public domain. Within a Wall By Rudolph Valentino Read for LibriVox.org By Matthew Ryan Ross MatthewRyanRoss.com Within a Wall Once in a time when skies were gray I chanced to walk in a cloistered way I saw the ones who closed the door On all the world Had spread before Their eyes that were closed to the joy of good They thought the God's law They understood O pity pity For such as they Who only look on skies of gray From cloistered windows Sad of eye When all about is glorious sky It was but the tiny patch of gray The shadowed thing that Happened to play behind the back Of the glorious earth Alas they thought it was all the worth Of the whole wide world The glorious world But the folded wings were not unfurled And closed to use They lost the call And so they lost to them They're all. End of poem. This recording is in the public domain. The Shallis By Rudolph Valentino Read for LibriVox.org The Shallis The Shallis 2-E-H The Shallis Of a lily cup Is indeed the sacrament That mother nature uses When she communes With God End of poem This recording Is in the public domain. Solicitude By Rudolph Valentino Read for LibriVox.org On the sands of a happy shore Walk two lovers Hand in hand Leaving all that's gone before They mark each footstep in the sand Knowing well that every footprint Will be trod by their own blood Therefore Let each couple ponder Or their footsteps For future good. To DK Man is the word of the story Man is the word of the story Man is the word of the story Woman is the inspiration God is the book that binds None other can be what is now The finished book. End of poem This recording is in the public domain. You By Rudolph Valentino Read for LibriVox.org By Larry Wilson You are the history of love And its justification The symbol of devotion The blessedness of womanhood The incentive of chivalry The reality of ideals The verity of joy Idolatry's defense The proof of goodness The power of gentleness Beauty's acknowledgement Vanity's excuse The promise of truth The melody of life The caress of romance The dream of desire The sympathy of understanding My heart's home The proof of faith Sanctuary of my soul My belief of heaven Eternity of all happiness My prayers You End of poem This recording is in the public domain. When you leave me Do not say Tomorrow we meet at twilight For that is the time of the darkening hour The ending of the day All Is glowing Gleaming in our love All is pulsing Breathing in the light Of understanding It is not symbolic of twilight No yet of dawning For it has reached the zenith of love's day So When you leave me, dearest Do not say Tomorrow we meet at twilight Rather, beloved of my heart We meet at sunshine Tomorrow End of poem This recording is in the public domain. Possessing the jewels of the earth Holding within my grasp The scepter of the universe All these Would but make me more the popper Were I beggared Of your love End of poem This recording is in the public domain. Fox.org By Thomas Peter 2GS 1 Just a packet of letters Tied with a bit of blue Just a packet of letters That once were sent by you To one who proved unworthy Of the love inscribed within The tiny packet of letters A witness of my sin 2 Just a packet of letters But they are not mine own I dare not claim One thought in them Not even as alone For to the one you thought I was In all sincerity You bared the secrets of your soul Now I send them back To thee 3 Just a packet of letters A monument of love You lie within the fire Place in smoke You'll rise above The sordiness of all deceit The grime of earthly thought Yet In this flash of living fire The flame of love Is caught 4 Just a packet of letters A while ago you were Now in vaporous symphony Of gray I send you back to her For the spirit of true love That's penned Must rise to meet her soul In pearly glory Round her head Love's halo Is its go To rake over the dead ashes Of a burnt out love One must use the penpoint Of poetry End of poem This recording is in the public domain The Lute A barrier to song of soul For none save God Can music charm From out a thing man made A bowl of wood A string or two to arm The troubadour with weapons strong End of poem This recording is in the public domain Powerless By Rudolph Valentino Red for vaporfox.org The Lute A barrier to song of soul Red for vaporfox.org By Kathleen Powerless When I see a look of sadness In the eyes of you Thoughts of grief akin to madness Search my being through Am I then so weak and helpless That I cannot send Even shadowings of sorrows To their deserved end End of poem This recording is in the public domain Cap and bells By Rudolph Valentino Red for vaporfox.org By Kathleen Cap and bells In life's masquerade The disguises are many Here's a man masquerading his wealth Where's a million of gold But a popper, I'm told He has an opinion of health Here comes a beggar In tatters and rags Masking his poverty old He may look the part Old. The costumes are varied Disguises beguiling That cover the true man beneath One wears learned looks That he's borrowed from books And a cooperative laurel wreath And still another pretending a clown In makeup the silliest fool But his knowledge of men Is beyond the kin Of a sage of the orthodox school There are millions of others In life's motley mask Who follow the art of mime They can play at mockery today But they never fool old father time End of poem This recording is in the public domain Patchwork Quilt By Rudolph Valentino Red for vaporfox.org By Kathleen Patchwork Quilt A patchwork quilt Industrial name Once it was not quite the same A different fame A crazy quilt Entitled you It was sorry fame Life is like that We do not see how little bits Make a harmony It's up to man to take each bit Of happiness and make it fit But if he takes And doesn't dwell upon the pattern Well it's hell A crazy quilt the name's okay But start a patchwork quilt today End of poem This recording is in the public domain By Rudolph Valentino Red for LibriVox.org By Matthew Ryan Ross MatthewRyanRoss.com To AM The sky is the mirror That reflects all phases of life The clouds of doubt Bring showers But there is always the silver lining promise Moral If the sky is the limit Better fix it clear in your mind to begin with End of poem This recording is in the public domain The philosophy of a pessimist By Rudolph Valentino Red for LibriVox.org By Josh Kibbe I do not care for money made easily It is not lasting I know I do not care for friends made easily They are not lasting I know I do not care for anything that comes easily It never lasts But I fell in love with you easily But not lastingly I know End of poem This recording is in the public domain Gems of Thought By Rudolph Valentino Red for LibriVox.org By Thomas Peter Diamonds Sintilating wit of sharpest ray Emeralds Philosophy Growth in words today Pearls Are the hymns of pity Sapphires Songs of the skies Rubies Are poems of passion And love that never dies End of poem This recording is in the public domain To CF By Rudolph Valentino Red for LibriVox.org Recording by Sarah Brown S-Exjunction Vermont To CF The curtain is raised on the first act The overture is over We can play our parts They say life's a stage But what a sad thing We have so few good stage managers Our productions have more In the way of costume And lack so often the right lines Lines do count Not always words But sympathy of thought Is quite as necessary End of poem This recording is in the public domain Sympathy By Rudolph Valentino Red for LibriVox.org Recording by Chuck Williamson Sympathy To J Sympathy is just as essential To the world as any other Great attribute of good But it must be sympathy In the right place Sympathy of thought Has been the greatest lever In the machinery of mankind But to sympathize with a weak nature Sometimes breaks up his foundation No, you're subject Never withhold sympathy In loving one But rather than sympathy Use encouragement as a tonic To tone up a weakling Kindly sympathetic interest Is only as essential To the world as any other Kindly sympathetic interest Is only another name for encouragement Never take away a prop Without putting a stronger one In its place End of poem This recording is in the public domain Labor By Rudolph Valentino Red for LibriVox.org Recording by Elsie Selwyn Labor On whose shoulders Are the crosses held None can liken a laborer To him who bears the heavy-hearted thoughts What can I say? It is more laborious than many tasks Yet It is not task For task is given to be done And ye are the cross-bearers If ye will End of poem This recording is in the public domain Recording by Elsie Selwyn Wealth To B.F.S. By Rudolph Valentino Red for LibriVox.org Recording by Sarah Brown S.Ext. Vermont Wealth To B.F.S. Treasures in the lowly casket That we call a brain Can jewels of the earth compare With all that man finds hidden there? The wealth of knowledge That will lead a willing soul Into a land of untold wonder? Where will be the lasting goal Of every seeking thought? End of poem This recording is in the public domain Understanding By Rudolph Valentino Red for LibriVox.org By Thomas Peter To the brother of Maris Maris of the golden eyes You and all innocence You and all innocence You and all innocence You and all innocence Looked upon a lovely world In wandering shyness Beauty beckoned Then turned the corner Of another day Leaving in her stead An unknown one The stranger to light Maris of the satan dies In your pity Looking from another world Have compassion on beauty Who thoughtlessly turned away Leaving another in her place The stranger to light End of poem This recording is in the public domain Hunger By Rudolph Valentino Red for LibriVox.org Recording by Nikalia Schwartz Hunger I have journeyed toward the city On the long, long road of life I have learned how little pity Plays a squeaking part in life I have learned that only money Is the voice that's heard today Calling for God's milk and honey Even hunger has no say I have reached the city's centre By the crooked road of hell For starvation's been my mentor And has taught her lesson well End of poem This recording is in the public domain Chuck Williamson Money Money You harlequin of the great masquerade Of life You wear the dollar sign as your mask It may hide you Yes, for a time But when it lasts Grim reality stalks Into the midst of the festivities The mask is ruthlessly Torn away And then is seen The true expression hidden behind it The cruel visage Of discordant greed End of poem This recording is in the public domain You heed me But our choosing makes them seem The reflection of a dream Let us therefore Choose in reason Whereby all that good is ours And by knowing rightful season Pass forever happy hours End of poem This recording is in the public domain To Caruso The earth is earth that is its worth To men who walk below But to the soul that seeks its goal Each land is all they know One calls it home, another heart Another property But to the one who loves his son He calls it Italy End of poem This recording is in the public domain Aron The green sod is red now Rebellion The green sod is white now Purity The green sod is blue now With truth And the green sod is ever green It is grown None can stop natural growth Aron Land of dreams Awaken End of poem This recording is in the public domain Bees By Rudolph Valentino Red Four Libervox.org Bees The air is alive with buzzing bees The little workers of destinies We grasp And strive To make our way Each life a hive And so our day Is fraught with honey sweet If we know all Is good in destiny End of poem This recording Is in the public domain To MT By Rudolph Valentino Red Four Libervox.org Recording by Elsie Selwyn To MT A certain lad had a long way to go So he sat still and waited until Well, another lad also had A long way to go So he hurried along and before long He received several gifts Not to be sneezed at No, they were not to be sneezed at Though I must say they made his eyes water a bit The gifts were lovely little blisters On his petal extremities So he had to sit down and take care Of his poor feet And in pain, tarried, looking at his poor feet Ah, yes Our other little lad took it very slowly Almost like the proverbial snail But kept on the lookout And pretty soon a nice comfortable wagon Came along And took the slow little boy for a nice ride And the good little slow boy Rode merrily by The poor little fast boy Who still sat nursing his blisters He had really gone Stepping on some little brimstones Though he said they were pebbles The good little slow boy Turned back and put his hand To the poor little fast boy But I regret to say he raised his digits To his nose Oh, world, where is thy sting? Note This is not a moral It is only something that happens Every day on our best trafficked roads End of poem This recording is in the public domain Recording by Elsie Selwyn Imperialism By Rudolph Valentino Read for LibriVox.org By Josh Kibbe Oh, mirror Most ungrateful ruler men has ever had We trembling bow to your decree But oh, tis very sad For all our great devotion And concern in your behalf No matter how we worship you You just give us the laugh That we may claim democracy You hold us like a slave The tyrant ruler of the world From cradle to the grave Pa Adams' prize apollos look to you It is the laugh The reward for faithful service Is Methuselah's epitaph End of poem This recording is in the public domain Radio to H.M. Radio of romance You Broadcasting to the universe All that is most blessed in all things But to me alone The melody of your love flows through The artery of time and space For unity Can never know division End of poem This recording is in the public domain The Kaleidoscope of Love By Rudolf Valentino Read for LibriVox.org Recording by Chuck Williamson The Kaleidoscope of Love Synonyms and antonyms A. Adoration Anticipation Affinity Arguments B. Beauty Bliss Bitterness Bondage C. Caresses Circumstances Confidences Charm D. Desire Delusion Dreams Divorce E. Ecstasy Engagement Ego End F. Fascination Faith G. Gossip Gratitude Gift H. Happiness Honor Heartache Hell I. Intuition Irony Idolatry Integrity J. Jealousy Joy K. Kisses Keepsakes Kismet L. Lips Loneliness Logic Longing M. Marriage Morality Money Man N. No Novelty Never Physician Own Offering Opulence P. Passion Promise Pride Proposal Q. Quality Quest Queries Quarals R. Romance Reveries Sympathy Sacrifice Shame Settlement T. Thoughts Truth Temper Tears You Unkindness Understanding Uncertainty Unfaithfulness V. Virtue Vanity Wisdom Wishes Wedlock X. The Unknown Love Y. Youth Yearning Yes Yawn Z. Zenith Zest Zeal Zero End of poem Memorial by Rudolf Valentino Recording by Elsie Selwyn Memorial to ASR A Saint-in-a-Stained-glass window To the memory of one who lived the life In sin and strife is the epitome of fun. A bit of coloured crockery, a picture wrought in glass, His memory is mockery, To his best to let it pass. A saint in a stained glass window, A blessed memorial true, When it reflects the beauty of The memory of you. End of poem. This recording is in the public domain, Recording by Elsie Selwyn. Dust to Dust by Rudolph Valentino. Read for LibriVox.org by Thomas Peter. I take a bone. I gaze at it in wonder. You, a bit of strength that was. In you today I see the whited sepulcher of nothingness. But you were the shaft that held the wagon of life. Your strength held together the vehicle of man, Until God called and the soul answered. End of poem. This recording is in the public domain. Lullaby Tree by Rudolph Valentino. Read for LibriVox.org. Recording by Campbell Shelp. Lullaby Tree. Cradle a thought on a bow of a tree, Where it will swing so lazily, Where it will gather to its heart, All in nature's lovely mart, For every lovely living thing, Stops to tuck by a tree and sing, Of what has gone on that very day, In fields and forests far away. If little thoughts hear happily, All that's said about a tree, They'll grow to be so wise and true, They'll come back to the heart of you, Much stronger grown and beauty-free, Because their cradle was a tree. End of poem. This recording is in the public domain. Adage by Rudolph Valentino. Read for LibriVox.org. Recording by Campbell Shelp. Adage. Happy childhood knows no sting, That the age of stealth doth bring, Stealing hours from the day, Takes the joys of strength away, Stealing hours from the night, Taking all for rest is might, When we steal away a trust, Nothing ever can we give, Back to him and so we must, Never steal, but give to live. End of poem. This recording is in the public domain. Faithfulness by Rudolph Valentino. Read for LibriVox.org. Recording by Campbell Shelp. Faithfulness to our little friend, the dog. A dog is the nearest approach to the sweet submissive Spirit God would have in us. Faithfulness in the highest form. He only is faithful because he believes in you, As God would have us believe in him. End of poem. This recording is in the public domain. Reflections at random by Rudolph Valentino. Read for LibriVox.org. Recording by Campbell Shelp. Reflections at random. 280. Sing a song to the moon, Or sing a song to the sun, But just as long as you sing a song, Your day or night is well begun. Woman, the unreasonable reason for the great reason Which the sages call life. Others not so knowing call it love. Faith, the engagement, repartee of love. Hope, marriage, maybe it's reply, But charity, divorce, is the retort to cordius. The wedding march or two step, I should say, Is only too often the lockstep. Punishment is seldom unmerited, Though we may not always see the cause. It is unwise to doubt others when you are not sure of yourself. Scientists are fools in some respects. I mean, the so-called ones, for they ignore the science of all important things. Friend is symbolical of heaven, but some play hell with it. Vine is a healthy disease and is very contagious. May I intrude, is often substituted for. Do I intrude? Bores are not connoisseurs in the selection of verbs. Make the best of what comes, for the best is coming. The great divide is the division of thought Which separates the wise from the fools. Whatever has in it the element of restlessness Is like the poison ivy plant. It causes rash and spasmodic movements, And after all the scratching the victim is worse off than before. Worlds and worlds to live in and so if you do. Care is helpful if we carefully care, But when we carelessly care, be careful. Gossip never related in the same way. When you eat hash you do not always recognize the different kinds of meat in it, do you? So it is with twice told tales. We always prefer the most difficult way. It seems so much more important, But once we realize it, truth is always simplest when it is truth. It takes a hero to accuse no one, But take another's accusation to his heart. Love's greatest expression is service. Eyes are living windows. Into the garden we all go, But most are looking for the worm in the bed And never see the promise of the flower. Arch the very mockery of it, The painted mask we sometimes call a face, Alas that pigment be so badly used, And artistry brought to much sad disgrace. Take freedom but take care lest it take your liberty from you. To be a humorist one must be concise, Witty but short lived for the good die young. Cleverness, word most useful to the bard, Who finds his pathway all beset with doubt, If we find his hidden meanings hard we call him clever, Then he knows what we're about. Publicity is the keystone in the arch of triumph. Money, pretender to the throne of all we most desire. Doubt is the opposing influence of our lives. Happiness, some never know as the lasting friend, But only as a bowing acquaintance. Wifehood is a profession, But womanhood is the expression. Faith is the oasis in our desert of lost hope. Given a chance to run in the great race, Even a weakling can win if he wears the armor of courage. Purpose in doing is the cornerstone of success. Did anything ever build itself overnight That was worthy the name great structure? Loving service is more helpful than scholarly advice. Friend, most lovely word akin to love, Its dearest relation, might I say. We dream of greatness and humility Only to awaken to the greatness of humility. End of poem. This recording is in the public domain. Cooperation by Rudolf Valentino, Red for LibriVox.org Recording by Campbell Schelp. Cooperation. O just and mighty army of the world of living things, March out into the open heart of man, He needs a touch of nature with the sympathy it brings In order to work out life's perfect plan. End of poem. This recording is in the public domain. End of Daydreams by Rudolf Valentino.