TRANSCRIBED FROM THE ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT JUNE 28, 1919 P 5
The Hills of Arkansas.
I am dreaming of thy beauty,
Native land so far away,
Only strongest sense of duty,
Keeps me from my home today,
Lovely scenes of nature’s making,
‘Round me spread without a flaw,
But today my eyes are aching,
For the hills of Arkansas.
Blush of peach and apple glowing,
Sweet strawberries lush and red,
Rose and honeysuckle growing,
White magnolias overhead.
Birds are singing in the wildwood,
Violets bloom e’re snowflakes thaw.
Visions bright of happy childhood,
In the hills of Arkansas.
Stately trees with flowers bending,
Flowers all about my feet,
Showers of petals, colors blending,
Purple blossoms, strangely sweet.
But the scent of bud and blossom,
Only makes my heartstrings draw,
And the homesick soldier’s bosom,
Yearns for home and Arkansas.
By the side of laughing rivers,
I have wandered far from thee,
And my heart within me quivers,
When, O when shall I be free.
Time will heal the broken-hearted,
Blot from minds the thought of war,
And we shall no more be parted,
From the hills of Arkansas.
NOTES: Mrs. Sue Brantly Jenkins was born on November 10, 1974 at Little Rock, Arkansas and died on July 7, 1933 in Cook County, Illinois. She is buried in the Rock Island Cemetery, Rock Island, Illinois. Her military headstone identifies her as an Arkansas Nurse, Army Nurse Corps. She was serving at the General Hospital, Spartanburg, S. C. when the poem was published in the newspaper. She served in the Army Nurse Corps three years and then went into public health. The editor made an error when he listed her as Miss. She was a widow by 1900.
TRANSCRIBED BY CAROLYN YANCEY KENT
The Hills of Arkansas.
I am dreaming of thy beauty,
Native land so far away,
Only strongest sense of duty,
Keeps me from my home today,
Lovely scenes of nature’s making,
‘Round me spread without a flaw,
But today my eyes are aching,
For the hills of Arkansas.
Blush of peach and apple glowing,
Sweet strawberries lush and red,
Rose and honeysuckle growing,
White magnolias overhead.
Birds are singing in the wildwood,
Violets bloom e’re snowflakes thaw.
Visions bright of happy childhood,
In the hills of Arkansas.
Stately trees with flowers bending,
Flowers all about my feet,
Showers of petals, colors blending,
Purple blossoms, strangely sweet.
But the scent of bud and blossom,
Only makes my heartstrings draw,
And the homesick soldier’s bosom,
Yearns for home and Arkansas.
By the side of laughing rivers,
I have wandered far from thee,
And my heart within me quivers,
When, O when shall I be free.
Time will heal the broken-hearted,
Blot from minds the thought of war,
And we shall no more be parted,
From the hills of Arkansas.
NOTES: Mrs. Sue Brantly Jenkins was born on November 10, 1974 at Little Rock, Arkansas and died on July 7, 1933 in Cook County, Illinois. She is buried in the Rock Island Cemetery, Rock Island, Illinois. Her military headstone identifies her as an Arkansas Nurse, Army Nurse Corps. She was serving at the General Hospital, Spartanburg, S. C. when the poem was published in the newspaper. She served in the Army Nurse Corps three years and then went into public health. The editor made an error when he listed her as Miss. She was a widow by 1900.
TRANSCRIBED BY CAROLYN YANCEY KENT