Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE ACADEMY BELL, by MARGARET ELIZABETH MUNSON SANGSTER


Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE ACADEMY BELL, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: The rich air is sweet with the breath of september
Last Line: Of the never-forgotten academy bell.
Alternate Author Name(s): Van Deth, Gerrit, Mrs.
Subject(s): Bells; Happiness; Joy; Delight


THE rich air is sweet with the breath of September,
The sumach is staining the hedges with red;
Soft rests on the hill-slopes the light we remember,
The glory of days which so long ago fled,—
When, brown-cheeked and ruddy,
Blithe-hearted and free,
The summons to study
We answered with glee.
Listen, oh! listen once more to the swell
Of the masterful, merry Academy bell!

It sounds not in vain over mountain and valley,
That tocsin which gathers the far-scattered clans;
From playtime and leisure fleet-footed they rally,
Brave lads and bright lasses, o'erflowing with plans;
From croquet and cricket
To blackboard and map,
Is but shooting a wicket;
No fear of mishap.
Oh hark! how it echoes through dingle and dell,
The jocund, the earnest Academy bell!

They fly, at its call, from soft mother caresses;
The boy will not tarry, the girl cannot wait;
So the round head close-clipped and the loose flowing tresses
Together flash out from the vine-trellised gate;
And the house that was holden
By revel supreme,
Is wrapped in the golden
Fair peace of a dream.
To sisters and mothers how silvern the swell
Of the rest-bringing, easeful Academy bell.

The path by the river, where willows are drooping,
Is radiant with children. The long city street,
All busy with traffic, makes room for their trooping,
And rings to the rush of their beautiful feet.
For the poet and preacher,
The man of affairs,
And the gentle home-teacher,
O'er-burdened with cares,
Alike spare a moment to wishing them well,
Who speed when they hear the Academy bell.

God bless them, our darlings! God give them full measure
Of joy at the fountains of wisdom and truth;
We tenderly view the enchantment of pleasure
Which royally lies on the days of their youth;
For, brown-cheeked and ruddy,
When children at home,
That summons to study
Once called us to come;
And voices departed we hear in the swell
Of the never-forgotten Academy bell.





Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!


Other Poems of Interest...
Home: PoetryExplorer.net