The First Lesson

Summary

The poem reflects on the idea of finding contentment and wisdom in simplicity rather than seeking knowledge or experiences beyond what one currently possesses. It uses the metaphor of a primer, a beginner's textbook, to symbolize foundational learning and personal understanding. The verses suggest that this basic knowledge provides satisfaction and fulfillment to the speaker, who prefers it over the prospect of acquiring more complex knowledge or experiences, which might promise vast, unreachable possibilities portrayed as the skies. The underlying message encourages appreciation of one's current state of understanding and the value of simple joys over the pursuit of potentially elusive or overwhelming knowledge.

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Not in this world to see his face
Sounds long, until I read the place
Where this is said to be
But just the primer to a life
Unopened, rare, upon the shelf,
Clasped yet to him and me.

And yet, my primer suits me so
I would not choose a book to know
Than that, be sweeter wise;
Might some one else so learned be,
And leave me just my A B C,
Himself could have the skies.