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Virtues in Verse: The Best of Berton Braley

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This is a selection of largely very inspiring poetry created by the master of verse, Berton Braley (1882-1966).
Top poetic technique (understandable words in skillful pleasant and logical rhyme and meter), good understandable and a believable plot make Braley's creations a refreshing change from the present day's incomprehensible 'poetic' jibberish.
Braley talks about universal values (and a few 'disvalues') that are applicable to our time and any time. He vividly describes virtues of people, like honesty, productiveness, rationality and he does so in a uniquely humorous style.
If you want to know more about him then check out the web museum in his honor...

This book is out of print. If you can possibly get your hands on a copy DO SO.

These are the selected works of Berton Braley, American's favourate poet in the first half of 20th Century. He writes rhyming, rhythmic poems about the soul of the american people. About hard work done by competent men, about those men and the rules by which they live. Most are reasonably short (less than a page) and they are generally inspiring and often humourous.

Here is a selection from 2 of his poems

THE THINKER

BACK of the beating hammer

By which the steel is wrought,

Back of the workshop's clamor

The seeker may find the Thought-

The Thought that is ever master

Of iron and steam and steel,

That rises above disaster

And tramples it under heel! ...

and

LOYALTY

HE may be six kinds of a liar,

He may be ten kinds of a fool,

He may be a wicked highflyer

Beyond any reason or rule;

Tlere may be a shadow above him

Of ruin and woes to impend,

And I may not respect, but I love him,

Because-well, because he's my friend...