My old gardener leans on his hoe, Tells me the way that green things grow; "Goin' to church? Why, no. All nature's church enough for me!" Says he. "Preachin' o' flower and choir o' bird, An' the wind passin' the plate -- Sweetest service that ever @3I@1 heard, That's straight! @3Eternal Rest?@1 What for, friend? Gimme a swarm o' bees to tend, A honey-makin', world without end, That's what @3I'd@1 like the best! (Scoop 'em right up an' find the queen, They'd not sting @3me@1 -- the bees ain't mean!) "Heaven's all right! But still I guess I'll kinder miss The Lady Lunar moth at night And the White Wanderer butterfly Crawlin' out of its chrysalis! I want my heaven human too, 'Twixt me an' you -- Why, I'd jus' love to see A chipmunk hop up to the Lord An' eat right out o' His dread Hand Same as it does to me! Eternity -- eternity -- Don't it sound grand? But say, @3What's the matter with today?@1 Just step into the wood an' take a look! Ain't that a page o' teachin' from the Holy Book? 'He that hath eyes to see An' ears to hear' -- That's good enough for me! I guess God's pretty near, He'll understand, @3I@1 know, Why I ain't in no hurry to let June go!" My old gardener turns to his hoe, Helping the green things how to grow, "The Misses can go to church for me! Amen!" says he. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE GROSS CLINIC by CAROL FROST YOU ON THE TOWER by THOMAS HARDY SOMETIMES by THOMAS SAMUEL JONES JR. THE FORESTERS: NATIONAL SONG by ALFRED TENNYSON A THRESHER OF WHEAT TO THE WYNDES by JOACHIM DU BELLAY THE LOVE SONNETS OF PROTEUS: 36. FEAR HAS CAST OUT LOVE by WILFRID SCAWEN BLUNT THE DOG-WATCH by JOHN GARDINER CALKINS BRAINARD WIND OF THE SOUTH by JENNIE MCBRIDE BUTLER TOWARDS DEMOCRACY: PART 3. IN THE CHAMBER OF BIRTH by EDWARD CARPENTER |