In my garden three ways meet, Thrice the spot is blest; Hermit thrush comes there to build Carrier doves to rest. The broad armed oaks, the copse's maze The cold sea-wind detain; And sultry summer overstays When autumn chills the plain. Self-sown my stately garden grows, The winds and wind-blown seed, Cold April rain, and colder snows My hedges plant and feed. From mountains far and valleys near, The harvests sown to-day, Thrive in all weathers without fear, -- Wild planters plant away! In cities high the careful crowd Of woe-worn mortals darkling go, But in these sunny solitudes My quiet roses blow. Methought the sky looked scornful down On all was base in man, And airy tongues did taunt the town, Achieve our peace who can! What need I holier dew Than Walden's haunted wave, Distilled from heaven's alembic blue, Steeped in each forest cave. If Thought unlock her mysteries, If Friendship on me smile, I walk in marble galleries, I talk with kings the while. And chiefest thou, whom Genius loved, Daughter of sounding seas, Whom Nature pampered in these groves, And lavished all to please. What wealth of mornings in her year, What planets in her sky! She chose her best thy heart to cheer, Thy beauty to supply. Now younger pilgrims find the stream, The willows and the vine, But aye to me the happiest seem To draw the dregs of wine. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...MIDNIGHT-BY THE OPEN WINDOW by LOUIS UNTERMEYER WEIGHING THE BABY by ETHEL LYNN BEERS AN EPITAPH ON M.H. by CHARLES COTTON SANTA FILOMENA by HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW PICTURES FROM APPLEDORE: 3 by JAMES RUSSELL LOWELL THE HARLEM DANCER by CLAUDE MCKAY ELEGIAC SONNET: 2. WRITTEN AT THE CLOSE OF SPRING by CHARLOTTE SMITH |