It is a clear sweet
pathway that he leads us.
CHILDHOOD AND ITS GLORY
Noyes assumes something that we all know for truth: that "Grown-ups do
not understand" childhood. But after reading this sweet poet we know
that he does understand; and we thank God for him. In Part II of "The
Forest of Wild Thyme" one sees this clearly.
"O, grown-ups cannot understand,
And grown-ups never will,
How short's the way to fairyland
Across the purple hill:
They smile: their smile is very bland,
Their eyes are wise and chill;
And yet--at just a child's command--
The world's an Eden still."
Collected Poems by Alfred Noyes.
Thank the stars that watch over us in love that the great-hearted
poets, and the children of the world--at least those little ones that a
half-way Christian civilization has not robbed of childhood--know that
"The world's an Eden still."
From the prelude to "The Flower of Old Japan" comes that same note,
like a bluebird in springtime, that note of belief, of trust, of hope:
"Do you remember the blue stream;
The bridge of pale bamboo;
The path that seemed a twisted dream
Where everything came true;
The purple cheery-trees; the house
With jutting eaves below the boughs;
The mandarins in blue,
With tiny tapping, tilted toes,
With curious curved mustachios?
* * * * *
"Ah, let us follow, follow far
Beyond the purple seas;
Beyond the rosy foaming bar,
The coral reef, the trees,
The land of parrots and the wild
That rolls before the fearless child
In ancient mysteries:
Onward, and onward if we can,
To Old Japan, to Old Japan.
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