Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, TO MY DAUGHTER, by BAYARD TAYLOR


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

TO MY DAUGHTER, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Learn to live, and live to learn
Last Line: Reckless joys are fugitive!
Alternate Author Name(s): Taylor, James Bayard
Subject(s): Daughters; Learning; Nature


LEARN to live, and live to learn,
Ignorance like a fire doth burn,
Little tasks make large return.

In thy labors patient be,
Afterward, released and free,
Nature will be bright to thee.

Toil, when willing, groweth less;
"Always play" may seem to bless,
Yet the end is weariness.

Live to learn, and learn to live,
Only this content can give;
Reckless joys are fugitive!





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