Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, A WORTH WHILE THEME, by CHARLES LOUIS HENRY WAGNER


Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

A WORTH WHILE THEME, by                    
First Line: As I sat and pondered, dreaming, vainly searching, vainly scheming
Last Line: Than are found in loving girls and boys.
Subject(s): Dreams; Fairies; Waiting; Nightmares; Elves


As I sat and pondered, dreaming, vainly searching, vainly scheming
For a theme to make a verse and rhyme,
I was conscious of a knocking on my study door, and talking
Not at all in chord with rhythmic time.

Just a baby's voice and chatter, just a baby's little patter
On the threshold of my sanctum door,
And I knew who there was waiting, who that racket was creating,
Though my children now do number four.

And despite my fancy's pleasure, which delights in quiet measure
Quite unreconciled to modern boys,
I got up and very gently oped my door, and confidently
Thought my frown would stop that dreadful noise.

But I reckoned scarce with thinking, for that rascal, without shrinking,
Gave a cry of honest, unfeigned joy,
And both arms he threw around me, by my legs he tightly bound me,
'Twas my darling youngest baby boy.

With a smile his face was beaming, and his bright blue eyes a-gleaming
Drove my frown and scowl away at once.
Then I reached and gently placed him on my desk, and sat and faced him,
And I gave to this thought utterance.

"Tell me, little light-haired fairy, where you got your graces airy?
Why your eyes are blue instead of brown
Like your brothers' who surround you, like your mother's when she found you?
Whence comes flaxen hair upon your crown?

Not an answer did he make me, but a gurgle which meant "Take me
Off this desk and hold me in your lap,"
Then I pressed him to my shoulder, kissed his cheek, and he, quite bolder,
Tweaked my nose until I heard it snap.

Next my moustache was the pleasure of this naughty little treasure,
And that it was short I now gave thanks,
Though perturbed by such an action on the part of my attraction,
Quite courageously I bore his roguish pranks.

Like a flash this thought came o'er me, here and now I had before me
Greater theme than ever poet had,
All the knowledge of the ages, all the wisdom of the sages
Were embodied in this little lad.

What can poets add to learning, other than a mere discerning
Of the things which they alone have fared?
Here was one of God's own stories, blest with pristine beauty's glories,
That made poetry a drivel when compared.

In this little blue-eyed scion lived the music heard in Zion,
Here were dreams come true, and manifest,
Here the thoughts of the Creator, amplified by Time, and greater
Than a poet ever yet expressed.

In his smile I saw the mother, in his laugh I heard each brother,
In his eyes I saw myself a child again,
And I saw his forbears living once again in him, and giving
Of their strength to prove him amongst men.

And I saw the Future bending to his will, and wisdom lending,
I could see him mount the steps of fame,
I could see him laurel-reaping, while the sluggish ones were sleeping,
I could hear the ages sing his name.

So I thought that in this blessing was a theme well worth expressing,
One the Infinite had kindly sent to me,
So I penned this bit of rhyming, quite unconscious of its timing
Which boots not as you will well agree.

And I pray that God, the Master, will protect him from disaster,
That he'll earn and reap life's greatest joys,
And I'll always be insisting, nobler themes are not existing
Than are found in loving girls and boys.





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