WHEN erst, by Eden's guarded gate, The parents of our race Reviewed the darkening prospect spread O'er Nature's unknown face; Though all was lost, that crowned before The Garden's glowing soil, Earth blessed our mother's fostering care, Our father's manly toil. But simple thoughts and frugal wants Their pastoral days revealed, Who drove the plough, by Tubal wrought, Across the primal field; Content, if seed-time's vernal hope And harvest's jocund soil Repaid our mother's fostering care, Our father's manly toil. The Ages roll,—the nations fade,— Till Earth's primeval plain, Ungrateful, clasps the golden sun, And drinks the silvery rain; But distant wilds have learned to bloom, Like Nature's virgin soil, That cheered our mother's fostering care, Our father's manly toil. Yes, barren fields, that once but owned Some desert-rover's tread, Glow, blushing with the summer rose, Or bear the bounteous bread; And there we bless the fruits and flowers, Such as Earth's natal soil First gave our mother's fostering care, Our father's manly toil. For kindling Art, from distant lands, And isles that gem the main, Luxuriant blends their mingling stores, To gladden all the plain; Till fields grow bright like Eden's bowers, Before the untried soil Had claimed our mother's fostering care, Our father's manly toil. And thus let Art and Labor's train Their glorious course pursue, And blade, and ear, and perfect corn The rolling year renew; And all the curse a blessing prove, That made Earth's primal soil Require our mother's fostering care, Our father's manly toil. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...BUNKER HILL by GEORGE HENRY CALVERT THE WAYS OF TIME by WILLIAM HENRY DAVIES ODE TO FORTUNE by FITZ-GREENE HALLECK NEGRO by JAMES LANGSTON HUGHES LATE LEAVES by WALTER SAVAGE LANDOR SPOON RIVER ANTHOLOGY: SETH COMPTON by EDGAR LEE MASTERS |