Archibald Lampman (1861–1899)

WHAT is more large than knowledge, and more sweet;

Knowledge of thoughts and deeds, of rights and wrongs,

Of passions, and of beauties, and of songs;

Knowledge of life; to feel its great heart beat

Through all the soul upon her crystal seat;

To see, to feel, and evermore to know;

To till the old world’s wisdom till it grow

A garden for the wandering of our feet.

Oh for a life of leisure and broad hours,

To think and dream, to put away small things,

This world’s perpetual leaguer of dull noughts;

To wander like the bee among the flowers

Till old age find us weary, feet and wings

Grown heavy with the gold of many thoughts.