 | My Lyrical Life |  |
31
THE GLOW-WORM.
The Apes found a Glow-worm,
Smiling in the night,—
A little drop of radiance
Tenderly alight.
Smiling in the night,—
A little drop of radiance
Tenderly alight.
“Ho! ho!” shivered the Apes,
Grinning all together,
“We'll make a fire to warm us;
'Tis jolly cold weather.”
Grinning all together,
“We'll make a fire to warm us;
'Tis jolly cold weather.”
With dry sticks and dead leaves,
All the Apes came;
Piled a heap and squatted round
To blow it into flame!
All the Apes came;
Piled a heap and squatted round
To blow it into flame!
But fire would not kindle so—
Vain their wasted breath!
Only they blew out the glow,
And put the worm to death!
Vain their wasted breath!
Only they blew out the glow,
And put the worm to death!
Glow-worms were meant to shine,—
Apes can't blow them hot,
Just to warm their foolish paws,
Or boil their own flesh-pot.
Apes can't blow them hot,
Just to warm their foolish paws,
Or boil their own flesh-pot.
So the world would serve the Poet,
With his light of love:
Probably his use may be
Better known above.
With his light of love:
Probably his use may be
Better known above.
| My Lyrical Life | |