Madmoments: or First Verseattempts By a Bornnatural. Addressed to the Lightheaded of Society at Large, by Henry Ellison |
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ON THE SPIRIT OF REFLECTIVE HUMANITY. |
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 | Madmoments: or First Verseattempts |  |
ON THE SPIRIT OF REFLECTIVE HUMANITY.
Oh think not that thy Time is thrown awayWhen gazing on a passing Cloud or Flower;
Nay, even shouldst thou stand fixed for an Hour
To watch a little Child, or Cat at Play
Tho' but with a sere Leaf— there is a Way
Of viewing even these Things, by which more
Real Wisdom may be gained than lies before
The proud Philosopher in many a
Finetitled Quarto— each of these is too
A Leaf in Nature's Volume, which the Eye
Of natural Love alone can read; the true—
-Est Wisdom is a Heart full of all high
And gentle Feelings: so o'erflowingly
Filled with Affection as to stoop unto
The meanest Thing, or spare the Flowers which lie
Before its Path in thousands: they are too
A Wonder of the living God, and by
The feeling Heart not injured wantonly!
Oh well for him, who early learns thus thro'
A comprehensive, deep Humanity,
To view all Things as Objects of one Love,
As comprehended all in him above!
For he who spares the Flower, will not be
Unmoved at Sight of human Misery!
This is the greatest Wealth, all Wealth in one,
And where this is not, trust me there is none!
And oh! deem not these small Things Trifles, this
Is the great Error: for indeed it is
Harder to be in small Things great, than to
Rise now and then to great Things; for to do
99
And such a Habit no man can create
By Fits and Starts: by daily practice he
Acquires it, and this must ever be
Made up of socalled small Things, which we by
Despising make so: but that which calls thy
Best Feelings forth, should not seem small to thee,
Nor will it, if it does, assuredly!
| Madmoments: or First Verseattempts | |