Among The Rocks
Oh,
good
gigantic
smile
o'
the
brown
old
earth,
This
autumn
morning!
How
he
sets
his
bones
To
bask
i'
the
sun,
and
thrusts
out
knees
and
feet
For
the
ripple
to
run
over
in
its
mirth;
Listening
the
while,
where
on
the
heap
of
stones
The
white
breast
of
the
sea-lark
twitters
sweet.
That
is
the
doctrine,
simple,
ancient,
true;
Such
is
life's
trial,
as
old
earth
smiles
and
knows.
If
you
loved
only
what
were
worth
your
love,
Love
were
clear
gain,
and
wholly
well
for
you:
Make
the
low
nature
better
by
your
throes!
Give
earth
yourself,
go
up
for
gain
above!
Robert Browning
Robert Browning (born May 7, 1812, London—died Dec. 12, 1889, Venice) major English poet of the Victorian age, noted for his mastery of dramatic monologue and psychological portraiture. His most noted work was The Ring and the Book (1868–69), the story of a Roman murder trial in 12 books. Through all the vicissitudes of critical reputation, however, Browning’s major contribution to the canon of children’s literature, “The Pied Piper of Hamelin,” has retained its popular audience. At the time of his death in 1889, he was one of the most popular poets in England.