12 THROUGH LIBRARY WINDOWS 



Where one may dream and taste the heat: 



Above, the mantel should not lack 



For curios and bric-a-brac — 



Not much, but just enough to light 



The room up when the fire is bright. 



The volumes on this wall should be 



All prose and all philosophy, 



From Plato down to those who are. 



The dim reflections of that star; 



And these tomes all should serve to show 



How much we write — how little know; 



For since the problem first was set 



No one has ever solved it yet. 



Upon the shelves toward the west 



The scientific books shall rest; 



Beside them, History; above, — 



Religion — hope, and faith, and love: 



Lastly, the southern wall should hold 



The story-tellers, new and old; 



Haroun al Raschid, who was truth 



And happiness to all my youth, 



Shall have the honored place of all 



That dwell upon this sunny wall, 



And with him there shall stand a throng 



Of those who help mankind along 



More by their fascinating lies 



(Than all the learning of the wise. 



