Madison Cawein is the poet of the blue-grass country. He was born in Kentucky, and his poems have the true Kentucky atmosphere,—“ the ripeness, mellowness, and sweetness of bird song and beauty of foliage, which are characteristic of the blue-grass country,” as witnessed in the following stanzas:
When things go wrong, as they often will,
With the work you have in hand,
Just whistle a song of cheer until You can see the work you’ve planned;
And do your best, however men sneer,
And all will be right in the end, my dear.
Just do the work that you have to do,
And whatever it is you’ll find—
If you keep a song in the heart of you,
To help what you have in mind,
And do your best, however men sneer,
All will be right in the end, my dear.