Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, CONTENTMENT, by FLORA M. KENISTON


Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

CONTENTMENT, by                    
First Line: People who live where the sound of the ocean
Last Line: Are sweetest of music which lulls me to sleep.
Subject(s): Contentment; Country Life; Nature


People who live where the sound of the ocean
Beats on their ears like a tribal drum, --
What can they know of the quiet contentment
Here in the country, whence I come?

What do they know of the sweet-scented perfume
Wafted along on each soft wind that blows,
Through wide-spreading orchards of apple and cherry --
From lilac, pond-lily and wild woodland rose?

What do they know of the age-olden picture:
Farmer and team that are wending their way,
With the faithful old dog that is following after,
Reaching their home at the close of the day?

What can they know of the soft, gentle murmur
Of brooklets that fall into ripples and rills;
The droning of bees; the sighing of pines;
The lowing of cattle on far-distant hills? --

Hills that are covered with broad, verdant pastures,
Green, and as soft as a carpeted floor --
But let the coast folks have the shriek of the sea-gulls,
And nights that resound with the wild tempest's roar.

Let their ears hold the sounds of the thunderous music
That comes from the roll and the surge of the deep;
But tree-toads and crickets, and soft-tinkling cow-bells
Are sweetest of music which lulls me to sleep.





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