Who dreams a sweeter life than this, To stand and stare, when at this fence, Back into those dumb creatures' eyes, And think we have their innocence -- Our looks as open as the skies. Lambs with their legs and noses black, Whose woolly necks, so soft and white, Can take away the children's breath; Who'd strangle them in their delight -- And calves they'd worry half to death. This world's too full of those dull men Who ne'er advance from that first state Which opens mouth before the eye; Who, when they think of dumb things, rate Them by the body's gluttony. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...TALES OF A WAYSIDE INN: THE THIRD DAY: AZRAEL by HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW GOD'S DETERMINATIONS: THE JOY OF CHURCH FELLOWSHIP RIGHTLY ATTENDED by EDWARD TAYLOR THE INNOCENT MAGICIAN; OR, A CHARM AGAINST LOVE by PHILIP AYRES A TRIBUTE TO DANTE by GIOVANNI BOCCACCIO |