Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE IDLER, by H. E. WARNER


Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE IDLER, by                    
First Line: When days are long and skies are bright
Last Line: Or wiser than the money-getters?
Subject(s): Nature


WHEN days are long and skies are bright,
When woods are green and fields are breezy,
I take my fill of air and light,
And take—yes, take things rather easy.

You men of figures sneer, I know,—
Call me an idle, dreamy fellow;
But my chief business here below
Is, like the apple, to grow mellow.

I coax the fish in cove or creek;
My light skiff rocks on rocking billow;
Or, weary, in some shade I seek
A mossy hummock for my pillow.

There, stretched upon the checkered grass,
Above the bare, brown margin growing,
I watch the still, soft shadows pass,
Lulled by the hum of warm airs blowing.

On bending spray of tallest tree
The brown thrush balanced takes his station,
And now in jest, now soberly,
Holds forth, half song and half oration.

The red-capped workman on a limb,
Up, down, in circles briskly hopping,
Nods to the helpmeet calling him,
With knowing air his sage head dropping.

At times, by plashy shore, the still
White-belted watchman springs his rattle,
While faintly from the distant hill
Come tinkling bells and low of cattle.

The waves in long procession tread
Upon the beach in solemn motion,
Fringed with white breakers; overhead,
Cloud-islands dot the upper ocean.

I know you solid men will sneer;
Call me a thriftless, idle fellow;
But, as I said, my business here
Is, like the apples, to grow mellow.

And since the summer will not stay,
And since the winter follows fleetly,
To fitly use the passing day
Requires my time and thought completely.

But, if of life I get the best,
The use of wealth without its fetters,
Am I more idle than the rest,
Or wiser than the money-getters?





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