Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, WALKING, by THOMAS TRAHERNE


Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

WALKING, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: To walk abroad is, not with eyes
Last Line: From viewing herbs and trees.
Subject(s): Vision


1

To walk abroad is, not with eyes,
But thoughts, the fields to see and prize;
Else may the silent feet,
Like logs of wood,
Move up and down, and see no good,
Nor joy nor glory meet.

2

Even carts and wheels their place do change,
But cannot see; tho very strange
The glory that is by:
Dead puppets may
Move in the bright and glorious day,
Yet not behold the sky.

3

And are not men than they more blind,
Who having eyes yet never find
The bliss in which they move?
Like statues dead
They up and down are carried,
Yet neither see nor love.

4

To walk is by a thought to go;
To move in spirit to and fro;
To mind the good we see;
To taste the sweet:
Observing all the things we meet
How choice and rich they be.

5

To note the beauty of the day,
And golden fields of corn survey;
Admire the pretty flowers
With their sweet smell;
To celebrate their Maker, and to tell
The marks of His great powers.

6

To fly abroad like active bees,
Among the hedges and the trees,
To cull the dew that lies
On every blade,
From every blossom; till we lade
Our minds, as they their thighs.

7

Observe those rich and glorious things,
The rivers, meadows, woods, and springs,
The fructifying sun;
To note from far
The rising of each twinkling star
For us his race to run.

8

A little child these well perceives,
Who, tumbling among grass and leaves,
May rich as kings be thought;
But there's a sight
Which perfect manhood may delight,
To which we shall be brought.

9

While in those pleasant paths we talk
'Tis that towards which at last we walk;
But we may by degrees
Wisely proceed
Pleasures of love and praise to heed,
From viewing herbs and trees.





Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!


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