That boy, the farmer said, with hazel wand Pointing him out, half by the haycock hid, Though bare sixteen, can work at what he's bid From sun till set, to cradle, reap, or band. I heard the words, but scarce could understand Whether they claimed a smile or gave me pain: Or was it aught to me, in that green lane, That all day yesterday, the briars amid, He held the plough against the jarring land Steady, or kept his place among the mowers Whilst other fingers, sweeping for the flowers, Brought from the forest back a crimson stain? Was it a thorn that touched the flesh, or did The pokeberry spit purple on my hand? | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...FREEDOM by RALPH WALDO EMERSON TWILIGHT by DAVID HERBERT LAWRENCE THE WHITE COMRADE (AFTER W.H. LEATHAM'S 'THE COMRADE IN WHIRE') by ROBERT HAVEN SCHAUFFLER SUMMER NIGHT, RIVERSIDE by FRANKLIN PIERCE ADAMS TO HIS DEAR FRIEND MR. JOHN EMELY by WILLIAM BOSWORTH |