Classic Poem

Angel in a robe of white,
Standing there,
With a kiss of yellow light
On your hair:
By the vermeil of your cheek,
By your eyes that more than speak,
By all graces shy and meek,
You are fair!

You have learned to " parlez vous ,
I suppose,
And have read some Latin, too,
Verse and prose;
You have wept Francesca's woe,
Read your Emerson, I know,
And can tell us where the Po
Flowed and flows.

You, mayhap, have deeper gone
E'en than this,
Though I would not wager on
What you wis.
Yet, perhaps, your books among
You have learned, although so young,
How to write the English tongue —
Learned miss!

Read us now the essay, dear,
Erudite;
We will listen, never fear,
With delight;
For we know 'twill be a treat,
Wisdom's choicest, richest meat —
And you look so very sweet
All in white!

Take your parchment with the rest;
School is out.
Let no fear disturb your breast,
And no doubt.
Whether you are dull or wise,
There is something in those eyes
Sure all critics to surprise
And to rout.

Beauty no diploma needs,
Earned or bought.
Beauty of itself succeeds,
As it ought.
'Tis the thing we all adore,
That we strive for more and more —
You are music, art and lore,
Heaven-wrought!