Beyond its dignified border Stretches the wildwood away; Tangles of happy disorder, Freely, triumphantly gay. Here in a peace that is pleasant, Studious, toilsomely fair, Severe as a scholarly peasant, Lies my Garden of Care. Reaches of turf well watered, Breath of a stately perfume; Squares conscientiously quartered, Ranked in regiment bloom; Files of lilies and roses, Bands of dahlia and phlox; Hidden and intricate closes Bound in a framework of box; Walks with never a curving, Juniper soldierly trim, Modest air of deserving, Smiling, and quiet, -- and grim. Who but must feel the calm gladness Here holding militant sway? And who could fail of the madness To long to leap forth and away? Ever I've toiled in its beauty Since the bright years of a boy; This difficult Garden of Duty, Set in the Wildwood of Joy. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...IF IT WERE NOT FOR YOU by HAYDEN CARRUTH THE SITTING by CECIL DAY LEWIS A PORTRAIT OF MY ROOF by JAMES GALVIN A BIT OF SKY by GEORGIA DOUGLAS JOHNSON FICTION by GEORGIA DOUGLAS JOHNSON I SING OF LOVE by GEORGIA DOUGLAS JOHNSON EPITAPH IN A CHURCH-YARD IN CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA by AMY LOWELL |