On Reading an Old Book by Longfellow

by Matthew Nies

Wordsworth’s words whistle clean as I read Them to my son, every one weighted, Metered, rhymed as intended 140 years Or more ago (the book that old)—sown Purposefully passionate, and yet grown Out of style. Yellowed pages blackened-seared, A master’s mind is a telling brand feted By critics whose praise he does and does not need.