THE POET’S LESSON.
“O poet vain, put by thy pen,
Put by this dreamy mood,
Move outward through the walks of men;
And do the world some good.”
These words I heard, and waived my will,
And left my rhymes behind,
And past the sill and down the hill
Went forth my work to find.
And first I spied a romping child.
“My child,” I stopt and said,
“The sun is bright; the air is mild;
Your cheeks with health are red.
“It does you good to leap and run,
And chase your mates about”—
But ah, my talk had scarce begun
Before the child cried out:
“O please, man, please keep back, I say!
O but you spoil my sport!
O but they all will flee away,—
My prisoners, from my fort!”
I saw no foe, nor fortress wall,
My coming had attack’d.
This child, I thought, knows not at all
A fancy from a fact.
Too young is he; nor yet has learn’d
The laws of health, like me;
Nor cares to know them; so I turn’d
And left his fancy free.
A man approach’d with bending frame,
His eyes by searching task’d;
A chance, I thought, to help one came;
So, “What is lost?” I ask’d.
“Lost?—every thing!” he said, and frown’d;
“Ay, every thing I sought.
All day and night, the whole week round,
My mind had track’d the thought;
“And just had found it, but for you!”
I blush’d at this; and he,
He craved my pardon, said, he too,
Had done a wrong to me.
“Nay, I,” said I, “should make amend.
Your search was on the ground;
And I dreamt not, who saw you bend,
That thought could there be found.”
He answer’d not; but, passing then,
With shadows paved the way;
The while I vow’d that not again
Would I such help essay.
With this I turn’d my footsteps where
A man long ill abode,
Assured it would do good to share
This weary sufferer’s load.
“My friend,” I said, “your smile is bright;
Your pains are lessening then;
Erelong they all will take their flight,
Your health be sound again.”
“Be sound?” he ask’d; “and can it be
That you misjudge me too?
Ah, not the thing you deem, set free
The smile that welcomed you.
“Nay, friend, but wisdom learn from one
Who long on earth has wrought;
Our ways would leave us wrecks undone,
If but of earth we thought.
“A double life we all must live,—
Of spirit and of flesh;
And but the former life can give
A joy forever fresh.
“Look up; there looms a region nigh,
And there the Master is;
And if like Him live you and I,
Then you and I live His.
“When all day long of Him I muse,
And all day with Him live,
The glory that the spirit views
Dims all that earth can give.”
I heard his words, and went my way,
My lesson learn’d betimes;
No more I felt could I obey
A voice that rail’d at rhymes.
Oh what were life without the worth
Of ideality,—
Its home, heaven’s halo round the earth;
Its language, poetry.
The world of deeds whose armor gleams
May light the path to right
Far less than rays that rise in dreams,
And days that dawn at night.
God’s brightest light illumes the soul.
That light this life denies
Till earth’s horizons lift and roll
Like lids from opening eyes.