Sketches from Life in Town and Country And some Verses: By Edward Carpenter: With Portrait |
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GOING TO SCHOOL |
 | Sketches from Life in Town and Country |  |
249
GOING TO SCHOOL
Beside the cottage door, she sees
The white sheep in the sun;
The old Church-gable thro' the trees
Breaks with the bounding of the breeze—
Cloud-shadows o'er it run.
The white sheep in the sun;
The old Church-gable thro' the trees
Breaks with the bounding of the breeze—
Cloud-shadows o'er it run.
Upward the green hill-slope they go—
Cloud-shadow, shadow and cloud;
Kiss on the height and hasten so
Down heaven's blue galleries below—
Cloud, cloud-shadow and cloud.
Cloud-shadow, shadow and cloud;
Kiss on the height and hasten so
Down heaven's blue galleries below—
Cloud, cloud-shadow and cloud.
The brown bee buzzes at the door,
The lilies shine like fire,
And overhead the lark will soar
And toss his sweet song evermore
Higher, and ever higher.
The lilies shine like fire,
And overhead the lark will soar
And toss his sweet song evermore
Higher, and ever higher.
Rich marigolds, star-thick, arise
Out of the warm wet earth,
Gaze, orange-gold, up azure skies,
Like beacon-flames for butterflies
Half-blind in honeyed mirth.
Out of the warm wet earth,
Gaze, orange-gold, up azure skies,
Like beacon-flames for butterflies
Half-blind in honeyed mirth.
250
She sees it all with open eye,
Absorbed in dream-world wonder;
Looks, childlike, o'er the tree-tops high,
And smiles—she has not learnt to sigh—
Then comes the distant Thunder!
Absorbed in dream-world wonder;
Looks, childlike, o'er the tree-tops high,
And smiles—she has not learnt to sigh—
Then comes the distant Thunder!
Quick as a squirrel she slips her book
Into her satchel brown,
Smoothes fair her frock to get a look
At tiny feet that said they took
To heart her solemn frown;
Into her satchel brown,
Smoothes fair her frock to get a look
At tiny feet that said they took
To heart her solemn frown;
Then, unforgetful evermore
Of hill and cloud and valley,
Hastens, the thunderstorm before,
Hot-cheeked at its rebukeful roar,
All down a dark yew-alley.
Of hill and cloud and valley,
Hastens, the thunderstorm before,
Hot-cheeked at its rebukeful roar,
All down a dark yew-alley.
| Sketches from Life in Town and Country | |