In Cornwall and Across the Sea With Poems Written in Devonshire. By Douglas B. W. Sladen |
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 | In Cornwall and Across the Sea |  |
103
“CORN AND ACORN,”
A PARABLE OF POETRY AND PELF.
Who soweth wheat, may see it whiten,
When summer comes again,
And his and other homes may brighten
Thus soon with goodly grain.
When summer comes again,
And his and other homes may brighten
Thus soon with goodly grain.
The ear has come, is ground, is finished,
And he must sow again,
And work with labour undiminished
To show one sack of grain.
And he must sow again,
And work with labour undiminished
To show one sack of grain.
But he who plants an acorn, planteth,
What he may never see
A full-grown oak, but, if God granteth,
Will one day be a tree
What he may never see
A full-grown oak, but, if God granteth,
Will one day be a tree
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To shade not only those descended
From him who sowed the tree,
But fill with shape and verdure splendid
The gaze of all who see.
From him who sowed the tree,
But fill with shape and verdure splendid
The gaze of all who see.
What wilt thou?—sow the grain, which whitens
In some few months and days,
To earn the ready pay which brightens
Life in so many ways?
In some few months and days,
To earn the ready pay which brightens
Life in so many ways?
Or sow the nut, which he who planteth
May never see an oak,
But which will grow, if God so granteth
A shelter to all folk,
May never see an oak,
But which will grow, if God so granteth
A shelter to all folk,
A gladness to his kin and neighbours,
A glory to his land,
Proof when he long has done his labours
Of what his head and hand
A glory to his land,
Proof when he long has done his labours
Of what his head and hand
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Did for the spot where he was nourished
Whole centuries before,
Though weaker men than he was flourished,
While they were living, more?
Whole centuries before,
Though weaker men than he was flourished,
While they were living, more?
What wilt thou?—sow with seed and gather
The harvest of the day,
Or sow with nuts of promise rather
Which may endure for aye?
The harvest of the day,
Or sow with nuts of promise rather
Which may endure for aye?
| In Cornwall and Across the Sea | |