"Two and two are four, four and three are seven" -- That is all that he can say where he sits in Heaven; "Two and two are four, four and three are seven" -- Through the long celestial day. "Two and two are four, four and three are seven" -- Once he used to sing it down the halls of Heaven; "Work is hard but there's an answer, Far ahead great things are waiting, I will add the magic Figures, I will seek the gleaming Balance -- I will win the Master's praise." "Two and two are four, four and three are seven" -- Not so careful now in the place of Heaven; "Work is good but there is pleasure, I am young with time before me -- O bright angel, from the shops of Heaven, Dance awhile, the Harper's playing -- Drink the rainbow wine with me!" "Two and two are four, four and three are seven" -- Then he only droned it on his stool in Heaven; "Work is bread and bread is living, Little mouths grow very hungry In the rooms of Paradise -- She must wear a golden feather When she walks along the sky." "Two and two are four, four and three are seven" -- Just a whisper now through the walls of Heaven; "O I can not find the error, Can not strike the gleaming Balance -- All the magic's out of Figures, All the wonder out of loving, And the Master has no praise." "Two and two are four, four and three are seven" -- Still he mutters on at the books of Heaven -- "Work is bread and bread is living" -- Through the long celestial day. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...ON BRODSKY'S COLLECTED by MICHAEL S. HARPER GETHSEMANE by GEORGIA DOUGLAS JOHNSON MATE (2) by GEORGIA DOUGLAS JOHNSON SONNET TO THOSE WHO SEE BUT DARKLY by GEORGIA DOUGLAS JOHNSON WHEN I RISE UP by GEORGIA DOUGLAS JOHNSON BEFORE A PAINTING by JAMES WELDON JOHNSON |