Beyond its dignified border Stretches the wildwood away; Tangles of happy disorder, Freely, triumphantly gay. Here in a peace that is pleasant, Studious, toilsomely fair, Severe as a scholarly peasant, Lies my Garden of Care. Reaches of turf well watered, Breath of a stately perfume; Squares conscientiously quartered, Ranked in regiment bloom; Files of lilies and roses, Bands of dahlia and phlox; Hidden and intricate closes Bound in a framework of box; Walks with never a curving, Juniper soldierly trim, Modest air of deserving, Smiling, and quiet, -- and grim. Who but must feel the calm gladness Here holding militant sway? And who could fail of the madness To long to leap forth and away? Ever I've toiled in its beauty Since the bright years of a boy; This difficult Garden of Duty, Set in the Wildwood of Joy. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...HOLY POEMS: 3 by GEORGE BARKER 1914: 2. SAFETY by RUPERT BROOKE ODES: BOOK 1: ODE 10. TO THE MUSE by MARK AKENSIDE A PRELUDE by THOMAS BAILEY ALDRICH EMBLEMS OF LOVE: 31. 'TIS YIELDING GAINS THE LOVER VICTORY by PHILIP AYRES |