Classic Poem

Upon the thousands cast
Into the field of days, with troubled flow
My thought went out; I saw them ranked and massed
In battle, and laid low.

To live, to think and feel,
It was to fat the robber of the nest;
I looked, I saw the serpent at the heel,
The aspic at the breast.

I saw want's tightening twist,
His crushing coil, around the child of care;
I saw the day-god wallow through the mist
To gild a harlot's hair.

I saw high worth bowed down,
Vanity glad as laughing summer-green;
I saw the unkingliest thing clap on a crown,
Hoar honor wasting mean.

But on itself thought turns.
" Thou fool! " mine said. " The lovely violet blows,
There's fire yet in the star, the foxglove burns,
Runs love-blood in the rose.

" Curled in the shadow-vase,
Ferns cluster; morn shakes bright the willow leaves;
The haughty worlds are at the appointed place,
The swallows at the eaves.

" The grasshopper has song,
The noon heat at the cricket's heart, it stings;
The bluebird still brings heaven with him along,
Of it he shines and sings.

" Out of the sun and cloud
The silences, the wonders of the wind;
All trustful things with joyance cry aloud,
They seek not, and they find. "

" Now will I once more bend, "
I said, " to humble service, wiser live;
With hope for my heartfellow, fate my friend,
Take as the days may give.

" From murmuring will I cease,
And longer after folly follow not;
But, lord of place enough for me and peace,
Will stand up in my lot. "