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Poems Every Child Should Know

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<h3>June.</h3> <div class="pre_poem">"June" (by James Russell Lowell, 1819-91), is a fragment from "The Vision of Sir Launfal." It finds a place in this volume because it is the most perfect description of a charming day ever written. </div> <table class="poem" summary="poem"><tr><td><div class="stanza"> What is so rare as a day in June? Then, if ever, come perfect days; Then Heaven tries the earth if it be in tune, And over it softly her warm ear lays: Whether we look, or whether we listen, We hear life murmur, or see it glisten; Every clod feels a stir of might, An instinct within it that reaches and towers, And, groping blindly above it for light, Climbs to a soul in grass and flowers; The flush of life may well be seen Thrilling back over hills and valleys; The cowslip startles in meadows green. The buttercup catches the sun in its chalice, And there's never a leaf nor a blade too mean To be some happy creature's palace; The little bird sits at his door in the sun, Atilt like a blossom among the leaves, And lets his illumined being o'errun With the deluge of summer it receives; His mate feels the eggs beneath her wings, And the heart in her dumb breast flutters and sings; He sings to the wide world, and she to her nest,— In the nice ear of Nature which song is the best? </div> </td></tr></table> James Russell Lowell. <h3>A Psalm of Life. WHAT THE HEART OF THE YOUNG MAN SAID TO THE PSALMIST.</h3> <div class="pre_poem">"A Psalm of Life," by Henry W. Longfellow (1807-82), is like a treasure laid up in heaven. It should be learned for its future value to the child, not necessarily because the child likes it. Its value will dawn on him. </div> <table class="poem" summary="poem"><tr><td><div class="stanza"> Tell me not, in mournful numbers, Life is but an empty dream!— For the soul is dead that slumbers, And things are not what they seem. </div> <div class="stanza"> Life is real! Life is earnest! And the grave is not its goal; Dust thou art, to dust returnest, Was not spoken of the soul. </div> <div class="stanza"> Not enjoyment, and not sorrow, Is our destined end or way; But to act, that each to-morrow Find us farther than to-day. </div> <div class="stanza"> Art is long, and Time is fleeting, And our hearts, though stout and brave, Still, like muffled drums, are beating Funeral marches to the grave. </div> <div class="stanza"> In the world's broad field of battle, In the bivouac of Life, Be not like dumb, driven cattle! Be a hero in the strife! </div> <div class="stanza"> Trust no Future, howe'er pleasant! Let the dead Past bury its dead! Act,—act in the living Present! Heart within, and God o'erhead! </div> <div class="stanza"> Lives of great men all remind us We can make our lives sublime, And, departing, leave behind us Footprints on the sands of time; </div> <div class="stanza"> Footprints, that perhaps another, Sailing o'er life's solemn main, A forlorn and shipwrecked brother, Seeing, shall take heart again. </div> <div class="stanza"> Let us, then, be up and doing, With a heart for any fate; Still achieving, still pursuing, Learn to labour and to wait. </div> </td></tr></table> Henry W. Longfellow. <h3>Barnacles.</h3> <div class="pre_poem">"Barnacles" (by Sidney Lanier, 1842-81), is a poem that I teach in connection with my lessons on natural history. We have a good specimen of a barnacle, and the children see them on the shells on the coast. The ethical point is invaluable. </div> <table class="poem" summary="poem"><tr><td><div class="stanza"> My soul is sailing through the sea, But the Past is heavy and hindereth me. The Past hath crusted cumbrous shells That hold the flesh of cold sea-mells About my soul. The huge waves wash, the high waves roll, Each barnacle clingeth and worketh dole And hindereth me from sailing! </div> <div class="stanza"> Old Past, let go, and drop i' the sea Till fathomless waters cover thee! For I am living, but thou art dead; Thou drawest back, I strive ahead The Day to find. Thy shells unbind! Night comes behind; I needs must hurry with the wind And trim me best for sailing. </div> </td></tr></table> Sidney Lanier. <div style="break-after:column;"></div>

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