Classic Poem

O READER ! hast thou ever stood to see
— — The Holly-tree?
The eye that contemplates it well perceives
— — Its glossy leaves
Ordered by an Intelligence so wise
As might confound the Atheist's sophistries.

Below, a circling fence, its leaves are seen,
— — Wrinkled and keen;
No grazing cattle, through their prickly round,
— — Can reach to wound;
But, as they grow where nothing is to fear,
Smooth and unarmed the pointless leaves appear.

I love to view these things with curious eyes,
— — And moralize;
And in this wisdom of the Holly-tree
— — Can emblem see
Wherewith, perchance, to make a pleasant rhyme, —
One which may profit in the after-time.

Thus, though abroad, perchance, I might appear
— — Harsh and austere;
To those who on my leisure would intrude,
— — Reserved and rude;
Gentle at home amid my friends I'd be,
Like the high leaves upon the Holly-tree.

And should my youth — as youth is apt, I know, —
— — Some harshness show,
All vain asperities I, day by day,
— — Would wear away,
Till the smooth temper of my age should be
Like the high leaves upon the Holly-tree.

And as, when all the summer trees are seen
— — So bright and green,
The Holly-leaves their fadeless hues display
— — Less bright than they;
But when the bare and wintry woods we see,
What then so cheerful as the Holly-tree? —

So, serious should my youth appear among
— — The thoughtless throng;
So would I seem, amid the young and gay,
— — More grave than they;
That in my age as cheerful I might be
As the green winter of the Holly-tree.