A Lesson in Latin Poem by Lewis Carroll (Charles Dodgson)

Poetry from Three Sunsets and Other Poems.

Three Sunsets and Other Poems by Lewis Carroll

A Lesson in Latin Poem

Fairy and Wasp Illustration by E. Gertrude Thomson

Fairy and Wasp

Our Latin books, in motley row,
Invite us to our task—
Gay Horace, stately Cicero:
Yet there’s one verb, when once we know,
No higher skill we ask:
This ranks all other lore above—
We’ve learned “‘Amare‘ means ‘to love‘!”

So, hour by hour, from flower to flower,
We sip the sweets of Life:
Till, all too soon, the clouds arise,
And flaming cheeks and flashing eyes
Proclaim the dawn of strife:
With half a smile and half a sigh,
Amare! Bitter One!” we cry.

Last night we owned, with looks forlorn,
“Too well the scholar knows
There is no rose without a thorn”—
But peace is made! We sing, this morn,
“No thorn without a rose!”
Our Latin lesson is complete:
We’ve learned that Love is Bitter-Sweet!

May, 1888.

A Lesson in Latin Poem End

Three Sunsets and Other Poems

Lewis Carroll – Three Sunsets Poem
Lewis Carroll – The Path of Roses Poem
Lewis Carroll – The Valley of The Shadow of Death Poem
Lewis Carroll – Solitude Poem
Lewis Carroll – Far Away Poem
Lewis Carroll – Beatrice Poem
Lewis Carroll – Stolen Waters Poem
Lewis Carroll – The Willow-Tree Poem
Lewis Carroll – Only A Woman’s Hair Poem
Lewis Carroll – The Sailor’s Wife Poem
Lewis Carroll – After Three Days Poem
Lewis Carroll – Faces in The Fire Poem
Lewis Carroll – A Lesson in Latin Poem
Lewis Carroll – Puck Lost and Found Poem
Lewis Carroll – A Song of Love Poem