Poem for January

Childhood Among the Ferns
by Thomas Hardy

I sat one sprinkling day upon the lea,

Where tall-stemmed ferns spread out luxuriantly,

And nothing but those tall ferns sheltered me.

The rain gained strength, and damped each lopping frond,

Ran down their stalks beside me and beyond,

And shaped slow-creeping rivulets as I conned,

With pride, my spray-proofed house. And though anon

Some drops pierced its green rafters, I sat on,

Making pretence I was not rained upon.

The sun then burst, and brought forth a sweet breath

 From the limp ferns as they dried underneath:

I said: 'I could live on here thus till death;'

And queried in the green rays as I sate:

'Why should I have to grow to man's estate,

And this afar-noises World perambulate?'

Source:  The Complete Poems, Thomas Hardy