American Boys, Hello! by Ella Wheeler Wilcox

View this email on a browser Forward to a friend August 10, 2014   American Boys, Hello!   Ella Wheeler Wilcox

Oh! we love all the French, and we speak in French As along through France we go. But the moments to us that are keen and sweet Are the ones when our khaki boys we meet, Stalwart and handsome and trim and neat; And we call to them—“Boys, hello!” “Hello, American boys, Luck to you, and life’s best joys! American boys, hello!” We couldn’t do that if we were at home— It never would do, you know! For there you must wait till you’re told who’s who, And to meet in the way that nice folks do. Though you knew his name, and your name he knew— You never would say “Hello, hello, American boy!” But here it’s just a joy, As we pass along in the stranger throng, To call out, “Boys, hello!” For each is a brother away from home; And this we are sure is so, There’s a lonesome spot in his heart somewhere, And we want him to feel there are friends  right there   In this foreign land, and so we dare To call out “Boys, hello!” “Hello, American boys, Luck to you, and life’s best joys! American boys, hello!”            This poem is in the public domain. About This Poem   Ella Wheeler Wilcox wrote “American Boys, Hello!” while visiting France during the latter stages of World War I as entertainment for the American soldiers stationed there.   Ella Wheeler Wilcox was born in Johnstown, Wisconsin, in 1850. She wrote numerous collections of poetry, including Poems of Reflection (1905). She died in Connecticut in 1919. Poetry by Wilcox   Poems of Passion (Indoeuropean Publishing, 2010) "I Have News for You" by Tony Hoagland "Daphnis and Chloe" by Haniel Long "Live Blindly and Upon the Hour" by Trumbull Stickney Poem-a-Day   Launched during National Poetry Month in 2006, Poem-a-Day features new and previously unpublished poems by contemporary poets on weekdays and classic poems on weekends. Thanks for being a part of the Academy of American Poets community. To learn about other programs, including National Poetry Month, Poem in Your Pocket Day, the annual Poets Forum, and more, visit Poets.org.   You are receiving this e-mail because you elected to subscribe to our mailing list. If you would like to unsubscribe, please click here.   © Academy of American Poets 75 Maiden Lane, Suite 901, New York, NY 10038