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The Scholar Dreaming
Gazing, listless, from his book
Doth the scholar outward look,
Through the window, far away,
At the close of summer day.
Doth the scholar outward look,
Through the window, far away,
At the close of summer day.
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Objects bright and fair he sees,
Feels the cool, refreshing breeze;
Which doth from the meadow blow,
Bending all its surface low.
Feels the cool, refreshing breeze;
Which doth from the meadow blow,
Bending all its surface low.
Sees the rocky hills so steep,
Where he longs to climb and leap;
Hears the songs of birds so free,
As they sport from tree to tree.
Where he longs to climb and leap;
Hears the songs of birds so free,
As they sport from tree to tree.
Strange the words upon the page,
They no more his mind engage;
School and books unreal seem,
They have vanished like a dream!
They no more his mind engage;
School and books unreal seem,
They have vanished like a dream!
Chide not, Teacher, chide him not,
Though his lesson be forgot;
Nature takes him by the hand,
He her words can understand.
Though his lesson be forgot;
Nature takes him by the hand,
He her words can understand.
Follow too her wiser plan,
Let the child instruct the man;
All his nature learn to train,
Or thy toil may prove in vain.
Let the child instruct the man;
All his nature learn to train,
Or thy toil may prove in vain.
Through long years, the mind will grow
Ere its stature it shall know;
Soon the body's height is gained,
And its fullest powers attained.
Ere its stature it shall know;
Soon the body's height is gained,
And its fullest powers attained.
Give him motives pure and high,
Point to earth, and sea, and sky;
Let him far and wide explore
Hill, and field, and rocky shore.
Point to earth, and sea, and sky;
Let him far and wide explore
Hill, and field, and rocky shore.
Give the body health and strength,
That it may not fail at length;
That the ever-active mind
May a fit companion find.
That it may not fail at length;
That the ever-active mind
May a fit companion find.
Poem No. 144; c. 29 June 1869
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