I have the beginning lines to a poem and would like to know the name and author of the poem. It begins like this: "He lives to learn in lifes hard school, how few that pass above him." I believe this poem is about a lost love. Please help me find this. Thank you very much!

-- Melissa Hanna (Melvn8r@aol.com), August 22, 1999

Answers

In School Days

by

John Greenleaf Whittier

Still sits the schoolhouse by the road, A ragged beggar, sleeping; Around it still the sumachs grow, And blackberry vines are creeping.

Within, the master's desk is seen, Deep-scarred by raps official; The warping floor, the battered seats, The jack-knife's carved initial;

The charcoal frescoes on its wall; Its door's worn sill, betraying The feet that, creeping slow to school, Went storming out to playing!

Long years ago a winter sun Shone over it at setting; Lit up its western window-panes, And low eaves' icy fretting.

It touched the tangled golden curls And brown eyes full of grieving, Of one who still her steps delayed When all the school was leaving.

For near it stood the little boy Her childish favor singled, His cap pulled low upon a face Where pride and shame were mingled.

Pushing with restless feet the snow To right and left, he lingered; -- As restlessly her tiny hands The blue-checked apron fingered.

He saw her lift her eyes, he felt The soft hand's light caressing, And heard the tremble of her voice, As if a fault, confessing.

"I'm sorry that I spelt the word. I hate to go above you. Because,"-- the brown eyes lower fell, -- "Because, you see, I love you!"

Still memory to a gray-haired man That sweet child-face is showing. Dear girl! The grasses on her grave Have forty years been growing!

He lives to learn, in life's hard school, How few who pass above him Lament their triumph and his loss, Like her, because they love him.

-- ilza (ilza@pobox.com), August 22, 1999.