Walden's Miscellaneous Poems which the author desires to dedicate to the Cause of Education and Humanity |
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OUR MAY-DAY WALK. |
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 | Walden's Miscellaneous Poems |  |
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OUR MAY-DAY WALK.
We went out to the Soldiers' Home,
With happy hearts and free,
And as we stepped within the grove
All eyes were fixed on me.
With happy hearts and free,
And as we stepped within the grove
All eyes were fixed on me.
They seemed to speak in words like these:
“Will he not write a poem?
“Does he not feel the gentle breeze
“On which our thoughts are borne.”
“Will he not write a poem?
“Does he not feel the gentle breeze
“On which our thoughts are borne.”
And as they range through worlds unknown,
I thought I heard them say:
That “Walden ought to write a verse,
“Upon the first of May!”
I thought I heard them say:
That “Walden ought to write a verse,
“Upon the first of May!”
Let nature in sublimity,
With golden rays of light,
Loan him a pen with diamond point,
And tell him what to write.
With golden rays of light,
Loan him a pen with diamond point,
And tell him what to write.
Let May put on her coat of green
And bid him freely speak,
That we may have a word or two
Before we stop to eat.
And bid him freely speak,
That we may have a word or two
Before we stop to eat.
We cannot feel the hidden spark
That burns within his breast;
Nor can we tell him what to say,
For nature's thoughts are best.
That burns within his breast;
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For nature's thoughts are best.
I hope he 'll think upon the bridge,
And of the willow tree;
I hope he 'll think of every one,
And then he 'll think of me.”
And of the willow tree;
I hope he 'll think of every one,
And then he 'll think of me.”
Depart from me all cares of life,
And let me here compose
A line or two upon this place
In verses or in prose.
And let me here compose
A line or two upon this place
In verses or in prose.
This is a fair and pleasant place,
And lovely to behold;
The place where aged soldiers live,
I often have been told.
And lovely to behold;
The place where aged soldiers live,
I often have been told.
Now let the soldier cast his eye
Upon the fields of green,
And I am sure he will proclaim
The matron is the queen!
Upon the fields of green,
And I am sure he will proclaim
The matron is the queen!
Then let the Captain take a view,
Although he is afar,
And with the soldiers he 'll proclaim,
Each lady is a star.
Although he is afar,
And with the soldiers he 'll proclaim,
Each lady is a star.
Here while I view the tender leaves,
And hear the gay birds sing,
My thoughts are borne upon the breeze,
That kindly welcomes Spring.
And hear the gay birds sing,
My thoughts are borne upon the breeze,
That kindly welcomes Spring.
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They swiftly fly to nature's arms,
And in her bosom rest,
'Till she unfolds her richest charms,
Close hid within her breast.
And in her bosom rest,
'Till she unfolds her richest charms,
Close hid within her breast.
And then they will return again,
As constant as the dove,
And join the angels when they sing,
That God is only love.
As constant as the dove,
And join the angels when they sing,
That God is only love.
Now while I'm in this tranquil place,
The evening shades appear,
Where I can view the landscape o'er
And none but I am here.
The evening shades appear,
Where I can view the landscape o'er
And none but I am here.
With love and kindness one comes down,
And by me takes her seat,
And kindly asks me to accept
A piece of bread and meat.
And by me takes her seat,
And kindly asks me to accept
A piece of bread and meat.
Of course I will accept of it,
And glad to eat I am,
And think within my heart there is
A Mary in this land.
And glad to eat I am,
And think within my heart there is
A Mary in this land.
Yet let me speak of one more friend,
I should not slight her name,
Whom I have found both just and true—
It is Miss E. L. Crane!
I should not slight her name,
Whom I have found both just and true—
It is Miss E. L. Crane!
Young friends, if we no more shall meet
Within the Soldier's Home,
Oh! may we meet in Heaven above
Around God's brilliant throne.
Within the Soldier's Home,
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Around God's brilliant throne.
May 1, 1872.
| Walden's Miscellaneous Poems | |