 | Poems by Henry Septimus Sutton |  |
59
CIRCLES.
The acorn, earth-trodden,
Grows pulpy and sprouts with the rain;
Up springs the young oak
From seed with might and with main;
Its fructified top
Comes, lastly, to acorns again.
Grows pulpy and sprouts with the rain;
Up springs the young oak
From seed with might and with main;
Its fructified top
Comes, lastly, to acorns again.
The child's top lies quiet
Asleep and inert on the ground.
Wind the string, spin the top,
See the toy how it whirls round and round,
Fast, faster, and faster,
Until it again sleeps sound,
And motion excessive
Joins hands with repose most profound.
Asleep and inert on the ground.
Wind the string, spin the top,
See the toy how it whirls round and round,
Fast, faster, and faster,
Until it again sleeps sound,
And motion excessive
Joins hands with repose most profound.
Like rain weeps the mother
In pain for her fever-struck boy;—
The fever abating,
Hope gives her eyes other employ;—
Him quite out of danger
Ere long she 'll weep over for joy.
Weak, bald, deaf, and blind,
The child comes, pity to crave;—
Stands erect the young man,
Quick, competent, active, and brave;—
Weak, bald, deaf, and blind,
Old age totters over the grave.
In pain for her fever-struck boy;—
The fever abating,
Hope gives her eyes other employ;—
Him quite out of danger
Ere long she 'll weep over for joy.
60
The child comes, pity to crave;—
Stands erect the young man,
Quick, competent, active, and brave;—
Weak, bald, deaf, and blind,
Old age totters over the grave.
| Poems by Henry Septimus Sutton | |