Smyrna times., 1879-05-07
JOHN REEDS THOUGHTS,

The following poem written by Bayard Taylor
several years ago. 1t it very little known, but is
genuine poetical power to be one of the highest
chapters in the history of real American poetry
There's mist on the meadow below; the berring-
frogs chip and cry;
The world is lonely place it seems and don't know
why.
I see. as lean ON the fence, how wearily trudges
Dan,
With the feel of the spring in his bones like weak
and elderly man
I've had it a many time but we must work when
we can.
But it is doy after day I've toilcd. and from
Though up to the seasons front and nothing to be
left undOne
Is ending at twelve like clock and beginning again
at one
The frogs make a sorrowful noise, and yet it's the
There's something comes with the spring. lghtncss
,r or else weight:
There's something comes with the spring and ii seems
to me its fate;
It's the hankering after life that you never have
It's the discomfort with life that is always thus and
so;
It's the wondering what we are, and where We are
going to 50.
My life is lucky enough, fancy, to the vision of
For the more family grows, the ofener some one
dies.
And its now run on 50 long, it couldn't be other
wise.
And sister Jane and myself have learned to claim
She rules in the house at will and in the barn and
field;
So nigh upon thirty years as if written and signed
ard sealed.
| couldn't change if l would; I've lost the how and
when;
One day my time will be up and Jane be the mistress
For single are tough, and live down the single
men.
hand,
And my lot showed well enough when l looked
But I'm tired and sore at heart and don't quite
understand.
I wonder how it had been if I'd taken what others
The plague they say of wife the care Of a younger
If Edith Pleasanton now were near me as IS Edith
Reed
suppose that well grown were there in the place
And felt myself in him as I was when my work
I should feel no older shure, and certainly more a
man!
daughter. besides in the house nay, let there bc
two or three!
We iiCNVi ''tIl HNCIio tlc luCh tildt Cd'l never
And what has come to the most might also have come
TO me.
I've Thought when neghbors wife or his child was
carried away.
! That to have no loss gain: hut now--I can
hardly say;
He seems 10 possess them still under the ridges o.
| clay.
And share and share in life is somehow, diicrcn
thing
From property held by deel and the riches that of
/ take wing.
feel 50 close in the brca,tI think it must be tho
! spring.
! I'm am drying up like a brook when the woods have
| been cleared around;
You're sure it must always run, you are used to th
! sight and sound
Butit Shrink, till there's only left stony rut in h
/ ground.
There's nothing to do but 70 take TIE days the
! come ana 90.
And not to worry with thoughts that nobody likes
| show
For people so seldom talk Of the things they want t
know.
There's times when the way is plain and cyerythin
nearly right,
And then of sudden you stand like man with
Couded sight:
\ bush seems often beast in the dusk of a fallin
| night.
must move my joints arc stiff the weather is breed
| ing rain.
And Dan is hurrying on with his plow team up tn
I'll go the village store Id rather not talk wit
| Jane.