Poet Leonard.
Poet Leonard is so clever,1
He can hear the grass a-growing ;2
Knows the story of the river3
Through the pleasant meadows flowing.4
Knows what piping blackbird sings5
To his mate in green recesses—6
He has learnt a thousand things7
That none other knows or guesses.8
Daisies lift their starry faces9
Smiling broadly up to greet him ;10
Bees and butterflies run races11
Which shall be the first to meet him ;12
Sguirrel talks to him in words13
Up amid the branches swinging—14
And in chorus clear the birds15
Teach him all their arts of singing.16
In his ear the nesting thrushes17
Tell the number of their darlings ;18
To him small hedge-sparrow rushes19
To complain about the starlings ;20
Wren and lark and linnet gay21
Call to him from leafy hollows,22
And at sunset round his way23
Skim in circling flight the swallows.24
In his brown Franciscan habit,25
Cropping tender juicy grasses26
At his ease, the nimble rabbit27
Only nods when Leonard passes ;28
Early violet, primrose sweet,29
First to him the Spring discloses,30
And for him ’mid Summer’s heat31
Blush the latest July roses.32
Poet Leonard’s ten brief summers33
Have been spent in field and wild wood,34
Nature in her varying humours35
Links herself with all his childhood.36
Bird and beast in toil and play37
Preach to him their glad evangels,38
And about him day by day39
Company the unseen angels.40
Thus another Master-singer41
Shall make glad this world bereaven42
In the years to come, the bringer43
Of a message down from Heaven.44
Earth with mystery is rife,45
Wisdom gropes and fain would know it—46
God unlocks the doors of life47
To the child-heart of the Poet.48