Lore of the WoodsBy Ruby Archer(Contemporary. Poet and journalist.)
By Ruby Archer
(Contemporary. Poet and journalist.)
Go not into the woods for rioting.But sit thee down alone; lean on a tree,And read the greatest volume of the world,Writ in the letters of the leaves and birds.Mark how the branches draw their fluid lifeFrom the one stem deep nourished in the earth,And on those boughs how individual leavesFind neighbor kindness, yielding each to each.They share the common good, yet with no loss;What grace there is, unique, in every one!And the glad birds! Only their nests have they,And the great heritage of light and loveWhich none has need of hoarding, yet not oneBut greets the morning with the song, “I live,”And warbles low at twilight, “Life is sweet.”Study the helpful ants; the social bees;The hovering, unbound insects of the air,Swaying in cities light as gossamerAlong one sunbeam on one fragrant breeze;And never dream that man may dare presumeTo name himself the king of things create,Till he shall learn the lessons of the leaves,The birds, the ants, the bees, the winged dust:That life is born of brotherhood.
Go not into the woods for rioting.But sit thee down alone; lean on a tree,And read the greatest volume of the world,Writ in the letters of the leaves and birds.Mark how the branches draw their fluid lifeFrom the one stem deep nourished in the earth,And on those boughs how individual leavesFind neighbor kindness, yielding each to each.They share the common good, yet with no loss;What grace there is, unique, in every one!And the glad birds! Only their nests have they,And the great heritage of light and loveWhich none has need of hoarding, yet not oneBut greets the morning with the song, “I live,”And warbles low at twilight, “Life is sweet.”Study the helpful ants; the social bees;The hovering, unbound insects of the air,Swaying in cities light as gossamerAlong one sunbeam on one fragrant breeze;And never dream that man may dare presumeTo name himself the king of things create,Till he shall learn the lessons of the leaves,The birds, the ants, the bees, the winged dust:That life is born of brotherhood.
Go not into the woods for rioting.But sit thee down alone; lean on a tree,And read the greatest volume of the world,Writ in the letters of the leaves and birds.Mark how the branches draw their fluid lifeFrom the one stem deep nourished in the earth,And on those boughs how individual leavesFind neighbor kindness, yielding each to each.They share the common good, yet with no loss;What grace there is, unique, in every one!And the glad birds! Only their nests have they,And the great heritage of light and loveWhich none has need of hoarding, yet not oneBut greets the morning with the song, “I live,”And warbles low at twilight, “Life is sweet.”Study the helpful ants; the social bees;The hovering, unbound insects of the air,Swaying in cities light as gossamerAlong one sunbeam on one fragrant breeze;And never dream that man may dare presumeTo name himself the king of things create,Till he shall learn the lessons of the leaves,The birds, the ants, the bees, the winged dust:That life is born of brotherhood.
Go not into the woods for rioting.
But sit thee down alone; lean on a tree,
And read the greatest volume of the world,
Writ in the letters of the leaves and birds.
Mark how the branches draw their fluid life
From the one stem deep nourished in the earth,
And on those boughs how individual leaves
Find neighbor kindness, yielding each to each.
They share the common good, yet with no loss;
What grace there is, unique, in every one!
And the glad birds! Only their nests have they,
And the great heritage of light and love
Which none has need of hoarding, yet not one
But greets the morning with the song, “I live,”
And warbles low at twilight, “Life is sweet.”
Study the helpful ants; the social bees;
The hovering, unbound insects of the air,
Swaying in cities light as gossamer
Along one sunbeam on one fragrant breeze;
And never dream that man may dare presume
To name himself the king of things create,
Till he shall learn the lessons of the leaves,
The birds, the ants, the bees, the winged dust:
That life is born of brotherhood.