How dear to this heart are the scenes of my childhood,
When fond recollection presents them to view!
The orchard, the meadow, the deep-tangled wild-wood,
And every loved spot which my infancy knew!
The wide-spreading pond, and the mill that stood by it,
The bridge, and the rock where the cataract fell,
The cot of my father, the dairy-house nigh it,
And e'en the rude bucket that hung in the well-
The old oaken bucket, the iron-bound bucket,
The moss-covered bucket which hung in the well.
That moss-covered vessel I hailed as a treasure,
For often at noon, when returned from the field,
I found it the source of an exquisite pleasure,
The purest and sweetest that nature can yield.
How ardent I seized it, with hands that were glowing,
And quick to the white-pebbled bottom it fell;
Then soon, with the emblem of truth overflowing,
And dripping with coolness, it rose from the well
The old oaken bucket, the iron-bound bucket,
The moss-covered bucket arose from the well.
How sweet from the green mossy brim to receive it,
As poised on the curb it inclined to my lips!
Not a full blushing goblet could tempt me to leave it,
The brightest that beauty or revelry sips.
And now, far removed from the loved habitation,
The tear of regret will intrusively swell,
As fancy reverts to my father's plantation,
And sighs for the bucket that hangs in the well
The old oaken bucket, the iron-bound bucket,
The moss-covered bucket that hangs in the well!
Copyright © Samuel Woodworth 1817
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Author:
Sharon\'s Poet (Pseudonym) (
Offline) - Published: October 27th, 2017 07:19
- Comment from author about the poem: Samuel Woodworth (January 13, 1784 – December 9, 1842) Woodworth was born in Scituate, Massachusetts to Revolutionary War veteran Benjamin Woodworth and his wife Abigail Bryant. Samuel Woodworth was an American author, literary journalist, playwright, librettist, and poet. - From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.\r\n\r\nWoodworth wrote this poem 200 years ago in 1817, and the Old Oaken Bucket still hangs in the well by the house in Scituate, Massachusetts (my hometown) in 2017.\r\n
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Comments8
Very informative and interesting. Amazing that the Old Oaken Bucket still hangs there! Thank you for the posting, AP!
And thank you for reading Laura.
Good write.
Thanks orchi.
Fun to read this bit of history wish you had taken a photo of the old bucket to share with the poem , would like to see some of your photographs accompanying your poetry !
It's on my bucket list. (seriously, it is) I do need to get out more often with my camera. Thanks for reading and your compliment Bill.
I would like to see this "old oaken bucket" myself.
I'm sure if you google it or Youtube it you'll be able to see it. But as WL pointed out, I need to get out there with my camera and get to work.
Thanks AP! I can almost experience that long cool drink!
Thanks wc. Google it or Youtube.
Thanks for sharing this poem with us. Don't need to see a picture of the bucket, it is so well described in the poem, I can see it in my mind.
Thank you for reading Fred.
wonderful story my friend
Thanks for reading Ron.
Don't you kick that bucket too soon there! oohh!
Kicking the bucket is not on my bucket list orchi. But thanks for reading. ; )
You would probably bash your toe on a thick oaken bucket! lol.
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