Ann Arbor High School - Omega Yearbook (Ann Arbor, MI)

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And il' in truth real Wisdom thou wouldst have, List now unto the word that I shall speak. fs -lleside thy father's palace lies a lield Whose flowery glebe no plow-share e'er o'erturned. With thine own tender hand break up this ground A nd scatter far and wide the yellow seed. l-Zach day behold with careful eyes its growth, And when the sun gleams on the golden grain Then by thy side, nay, in thy very self Will Wisdom be whose like thou ne'er hast known? .lt nd even while with eager listening ear lle heard her words, the lovely nymph was gone. Then rose he up and fastened firm his helm Nor thought of rest till, all his steps retraced lle stood beside his father's llowery Held. With eager hands he doffed his glittering robes And driving from their quiet, peaceful stall His i'ather's meek-eyed oxen, cast the yoke About their necks and drove them 'fore the plow. Day in, day out, he turned the flowery turf V And found each day in ea.rth or air or sky Some wonder that he ne'er had seen before. And often times he left his plow and work And kneeling down upon the new turned ground With wondering eyes beheld the wriggling worm That sought to hide his head beneath the soil, Or now reclining 'neath some mighty tree, Saw how the bees buzzed 'round the fragrant flowers And sought to sip the nectar from their cups, ' And watched the gaudy sylph ilit to and fro. But most of all he loved the busy ants, And would for hours sit there beside their hills And muse in silence on their wondrous ways. Each day his youthful brow more thoughtful grew And in his eyes there came a serious look. But now at last the field was plowed And all the ground was ready for the seed. Then far and wide he cast the yellow grain That found a grave beneath the up-turned earth. The prince watched every day with eager eyes The ground where lay the germinating grain, And sometimes, grown impatient at delay, Would brush the earth from the half sprouted seed T0 See Why 'bwas so very, very slow. ' But when he saw the tiny, pointed 15135195 Pierce through the soil, how passing proud he grew And as from day to day he saw these blades

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To hear his father's blessing on his head. Who then looked down with pride and yet some fear And said, Go forth, my noble son, go forth! The gods attend thy way and 'neath thy feet ' Cast flowers of sweetest bloom, that ne'er the rocks Or rough and weary way thy tender feet shall wound! And when again thou com'st may by thy side, Enslaved and conquered. Wisdom meekly walk! And on that day shalt thou ascend the throne And wear upon thy head the golden cro wn.', Thus speaking stooped and kissed his son's fairbrow. And he, with one long lingering look turned 'round And 'twixt the ranks of courtiers passed alone, 'Till through the marble arched door he went, When, with ablast of bugles and a shout, The people and the court all followed him, Until they came to where the river flo wed And he was borne across, and, standing there, Gave one farewell to all that boisterous folk And turned and disappeared within the wood. Long days he wandered over field and fen And sought incave and cavern, glade and glen To find the one for whom his quest was made. At last one day, half wearied of , his task And wishing much that now the end were nigh, He came to where, besidea murmuring brook, An ancient oak tree, seamed and gnarled stood, And underneath its crooked' arms was spread A broad, smooth mat of soft and silky grass Embroidered here and there with lovely flowers. And here awearied did he lay him down And taking off his helmet let his curls i Fall free, unbound upon the shady grass. Then lulled and soothed by all the sweet voiced birds And half enrapt by sweetly scented flowers, His eyelids drooped and he went half asleep. But sudden in the oak-tree's seamed side A door swung out, and in the odorous air, And in that lovely jubilee of song There stood a maiden, tall and lithe and fair, Half draped in clinging robe of some thin silk And veiled beneath the glorious golden hair That played and fretted in the balmy breeze. When he surprised, amazed, then half arose, She, coming forward, spake in flute-like tones These words: Oh, Hero, who o'er wild and waste hast come Well know I whom thou long hast sought to find.

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Wax greater, greater, till before him stood! A wide expanse of billowy ripened grain His soul was awed to see a thing so great- That from these little lifeless grains of wheat So great a Held of golden grain should growg Then whispering softly to himself these words,. Ah! N ow, indeed, is real Wisdom mine, He gat him up and buckling on his helm He hasted till he stood before therking And said- Oh, King, my Father most beloved! Now have I found indeed the one I sought. Directed by the gods' own messenger, I found her where I ne'er had thought she- dwelt.. I learned from ants the ways of industry And how to govern well and peacefully. I've seen the wondrous miracle of growth And learned the kindly lessons Nature gives: Till now I feel that Wisdom is my friend. -Then from his royal seat the old king stept, And up the golden stairs his son was led , And on his head was placed the regal crown. -Oh, ye who love in Wisdom's hallsto walk Have not ye ever found this passing true, To him who humbly sits at Wisdom's feet She graciously each day reveals herself In some new wonder, never seen before, In some new thought that ne'er had known his mind In new seen beauty or in new felt love Until his soul is broadened byher thoughts And he possesses treasure more than gold For he is Wisdom's patient learning son.