 | Collected poems of Thomas Hardy |  |
825
CHILDHOOD AMONG THE FERNS
I sat one sprinkling day upon the lea,
Where tall-stemmed ferns spread out luxuriantly,
And nothing but those tall ferns sheltered me.
Where tall-stemmed ferns spread out luxuriantly,
And nothing but those tall ferns sheltered me.
The rain gained strength, and damped each lopping frond,
Ran down their stalks beside me and beyond,
And shaped slow-creeping rivulets as I conned,
Ran down their stalks beside me and beyond,
And shaped slow-creeping rivulets as I conned,
With pride, my spray-roofed house. And though anon
Some drops pierced its green rafters, I sat on,
Making pretence I was not rained upon.
Some drops pierced its green rafters, I sat on,
Making pretence I was not rained upon.
The sun then burst, and brought forth a sweet breath
From the limp ferns as they dried underneath:
I said: “I could live on here thus till death”;
From the limp ferns as they dried underneath:
I said: “I could live on here thus till death”;
And queried in the green rays as I sate:
“Why should I have to grow to man's estate,
And this afar-noised World perambulate?”
“Why should I have to grow to man's estate,
And this afar-noised World perambulate?”
| Collected poems of Thomas Hardy | |