An English lad, who, reading in a book,
A ponderous, leathern thing set on his knee,
Saw the broad violet of the Egean Sea
Lap at his feet as it were village brook.
Wide was the east; the gusts of morning shook;
Immortal laughter beat along that shore;
Pan, crouching in the reeds, piped as of yore;
The gods came down and thundered from that book.
He lifted his sad eyes; his London street
Swarmed in the sun, and strove to make him heed;
Boys spun their tops, shouting and fair of cheek:
But, still, that violet lapping at his feet,-
An English lad had he sat down to read;
But he rose up and knew himself a Greek.
(Lizette Woodworth Reese)
More Poetry from Lizette Woodworth Reese:
Lizette Woodworth Reese Poems based on Topics: God, Books, English, Morning, Education, Immortality, Reading- Anne (Lizette Woodworth Reese Poems)
- A Haunting Memory (Lizette Woodworth Reese Poems)
- Herbs (Lizette Woodworth Reese Poems)
- Lydia (Lizette Woodworth Reese Poems)
- Lydia Is Gone This Many A Year (Lizette Woodworth Reese Poems)
- Daffodils (Lizette Woodworth Reese Poems)
Readers Who Like This Poem Also Like:
Based on Topics: God Poems, Morning Poems, Education Poems, Books Poems, Immortality Poems, English Poems, Reading PoemsBased on Keywords: egean