ear scholar, o dear scholar, full of words,
Do you not see
That mystery
Revealed unto the birds
That nest and fly
And breathe and die
Yet sing while on this earth?
Dear scholar, o dear scholar, sore of thought,
The stones cry out,
Dry grasses shout,
Which knowledge can't be bought;
For it is free
And plain to see
Nor carved in precious ivory
But always is forgot.
The greatest truth, I'll tell thee,
Is the one that nearest lies,
Yet centuries of study
Will never it espy---
The dearest mystery is plain
And no one who holds on to pain
Can ever see its light.
Dear scholar, o dear scholar, life is short:
Like lightning falls
And beauty palls
And apples turn to warts.
So take not time for letters,
Store not up a hoard:
A giant corpse gives only
Vultures more to gorge.
But study this one jewel
That under all upholds,
Which innocence and experience
Teach equal to wise souls---
For you are nothing special,
And what a happy thought!
All men on earth are kings as you,
Sole heirs of all from drops of dew
To mighty kingdoms carved from rock---
And this is my one lesson:
That the common is the best.
Fair men and women, light and air,
Trees and mountains, sleep and rest.
For God is Lord of plenty
And joys to plenty give;
Who asks shall seek,
Who seeks shall find,
And there is naught
Within the mind
Of God that does not live.
O scholar, o dear scholar, take delight!
For everything
Around you sings
And shadows fade to light!
And beasts from private mythologies
Gather to sing doxologies,
And everywhere are found the keys
To a new and purer sight.
Aye, the sun is burning out---
And all the lovelier so it is!
And we abound in heavenly blessings
Even faithful Adam did not know!
Aye, life's a cairn of sorrows---
But sorrows can be our joys!
For the folly of God outshines and shatters
All the wisdom that sage men employ.
O scholar, burdened scholar, take your rest.
The great I Am
Became a lamb
So He could call you blessed.
His yoke is easy,
His burden light,
And happiness tears the veil of night;
Will you, too, take His quest?
To give offense
Will make you small;
To take offense
Will curse you;
To turn offense---
The risk of birth---
And make it into virtue
Will crown you king
Of everything
And nothing more can hurt you.
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