He had been a pioneer of songwrting
And the music business
A songwriter before his time
Before there was a music industry
13 years before sound recording began
Before copywrite laws protected his works
66 Years ahead of radio
He died heartbroken
Had lost his family
Had only 37 cents to his name
Had experienced success and decline
and in his pocket was found
Only these words on a scrap of paper
'Dear Friends and Gentle Hearts'
Stephen Foster
Beautiful Dreamer!

JAMES T. ADAIR

http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/dear-friends-and-gentle-hearts/