He came to my desk with a quivering lip; The lesson was done; "Dear Teacher, I want a new leaf," he said, "I have spoiled this one." I took the old leaf, torn and blotted, And gave him a new one, all unspotted, And into his sad eyes smiled: "Do better now, my child!" I came to the Throne with a trembling heart; The year's work was done; "Dear Father, I want a new year," I said, "I have spoiled this one." He took the old year, torn and blotted, And gave me a new one, all unspotted, And into my sad heart smiled: "Do better now, my child!" | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...BEFORE A STATUE OF ACHILLES by GEORGE SANTAYANA VICTORY BELLS by GRACE HAZARD CONKLING A BALLAD OF ATHLONE; OR, HOW THEY BROKE DOWN THE BRIDGE by AUBREY THOMAS DE VERE THE REVENGE OF HAMISH by SIDNEY LANIER STELLA'S BIRTHDAY, 1725 by JONATHAN SWIFT |