{
 "id": "henry-van-dyke-jr/spirit-of-the-everlasting-boy",
 "title": "Spirit of the Everlasting Boy",
 "ordinal": null,
 "subtitle": "June 11, 1910",
 "poet": "Henry van Dyke Jr.",
 "poet_slug": "henry-van-dyke-jr",
 "language": "en",
 "book": "The Poems of Henry Van Dyke",
 "book_slug": "poems",
 "book_kind": "volume",
 "sequence": 105,
 "container": null,
 "epigraph": null,
 "first_published": {
  "year": 1920,
  "venue": "The Poems of Henry Van Dyke (1920)",
  "note": "Taken from the 1920 collected edition. That is the printing this text comes from, not the poem's first appearance: the volume gathers work published from 1897 onward, and which earlier book or magazine printed this poem first has not been established here.",
  "uncertain": true,
  "sources": [
   "https://archive.org/details/poemsofhenryvand00vandrich"
  ]
 },
 "source": {
  "kind": "standard-ebooks",
  "repo": "standardebooks/henry-van-dyke-jr_poetry",
  "file": "poetry.xhtml",
  "upstream": [
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   "https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/16134",
   "https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/10679",
   "https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/3525",
   "https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/9372",
   "https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/29314",
   "https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/43094",
   "https://archive.org/details/poemsofhenryvand00vandrich",
   "https://archive.org/details/buildersotherpoe00vandrich",
   "https://archive.org/details/toilingoffelixan00vandiala",
   "https://archive.org/details/musicotherpoems0000henr_c7v6",
   "https://archive.org/details/poemsnowfirstcol00vanduoft",
   "https://archive.org/details/songsoutofdoors0000vand",
   "https://archive.org/details/thyseaisgreatour00vandiala",
   "https://archive.org/details/chosenpoems0000vand"
  ],
  "rights": "public domain (SE dedication; underlying text pre-1931)"
 },
 "verification": {
  "level": "structural-only",
  "last_checked": "2026-08-20"
 },
 "stats": {
  "n_lines": 171,
  "n_stanzas": 8,
  "n_parts": 0,
  "longest_line_chars": 50,
  "max_indent": 4
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 "stanzas": [
  [
   {
    "text": "The British bard who looked on Eton’s walls,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Endeared by distance in the pearly gray",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And soft aerial blue that ever falls",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "On English landscape with the dying day,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Beheld in thought his boyhood far away,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Its random raptures and its festivals",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Of noisy mirth,",
    "indent": 2
   },
   {
    "text": "The brief illusion of its idle joys,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And mourned that none of these can stay",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "With men, whom life inexorably calls",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "To face the grim realities of earth.",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "His pensive fancy pictured there at play",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "From year to year the careless bands of boys,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Unconscious victims kept in golden state,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "While haply they await",
    "indent": 2
   },
   {
    "text": "The dark approach of disenchanting Fate,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "To hale them to the sacrifice",
    "indent": 2
   },
   {
    "text": "Of Pain and Penury and Grief and Care,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Slow-withering Age, or Failure’s swift despair.",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Half-pity and half-envy dimmed the eyes",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Of that old poet, gazing on the scene",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Where long ago his youth had flowed serene,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And all the burden of his ode was this:",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "“Where ignorance is bliss,",
    "indent": 2
   },
   {
    "text": "’Tis folly to be wise.”",
    "indent": 2
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "But not for us, O plaintive elegist,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Thine epicedial tone of sad farewell",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "To joy in wisdom and to thought in youth!",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Our western Muse would keep her tryst",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "With sunrise, not with sunset, and foretell",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "In boyhood’s bliss the dawn of manhood’s truth.",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "O spirit of the everlasting boy,",
    "indent": 2
   },
   {
    "text": "Alert, elate,",
    "indent": 4
   },
   {
    "text": "And confident that life is good,",
    "indent": 2
   },
   {
    "text": "Thou knockest boldly at the gate,",
    "indent": 2
   },
   {
    "text": "In hopeful hardihood,",
    "indent": 4
   },
   {
    "text": "Eager to enter and enjoy",
    "indent": 2
   },
   {
    "text": "Thy new estate.",
    "indent": 4
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "Through the old house thou runnest everywhere,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Bringing a breath of folly and fresh air.",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Ready to make a treasure of each toy,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Or break them all in discontented mood;",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Fearless of Fate,",
    "indent": 4
   },
   {
    "text": "Yet strangely fearful of a comrade’s laugh;",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "Reckless and timid, hard and sensitive;",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "In talk a rebel, full of mocking chaff,",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "At heart devout conservative;",
    "indent": 3
   },
   {
    "text": "In love with love, yet hating to be kissed;",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "Inveterate optimist,",
    "indent": 4
   },
   {
    "text": "And judge severe,",
    "indent": 4
   },
   {
    "text": "In reason cloudy but in feeling clear;",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "Keen critic, ardent hero-worshipper,",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "Impatient of restraint in little ways,",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "Yet ever ready to confer",
    "indent": 3
   },
   {
    "text": "On chosen leaders boundless power and praise;",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "Adventurous spirit burning to explore",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "Untrodden paths where hidden danger lies,",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "And homesick heart looking with wistful eyes",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "Through every twilight to a mother’s door;",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "Thou daring, darling, inconsistent boy,",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "How dull the world would be",
    "indent": 3
   },
   {
    "text": "Without thy presence, dear barbarian,",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "And happy lord of high futurity!",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "Be what thou art, our trouble and our joy,",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "Our hardest problem and our brightest hope!",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "And while thine elders lead thee up the slope",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "Of knowledge, let them learn from teaching thee",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "That vital joy is part of nature’s plan,",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "And he who keeps the spirit of the boy",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "Shall gladly grow to be a happy man.",
    "indent": 1
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "What constitutes a school?",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "Not ancient halls and ivy-mantled towers,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Where dull traditions rule",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "With heavy hand youth’s lightly springing powers;",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Not spacious pleasure courts,",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "And lofty temples of athletic fame,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Where devotees of sports",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "Mistake a pastime for life’s highest aim;",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Not fashion, nor renown",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "Of wealthy patronage and rich estate;",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "No, none of these can crown",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "A school with light and make it truly great.",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "But masters, strong and wise,",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "Who teach because they love the teacher’s task,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And find their richest prize",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "In eyes that open and in minds that ask;",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And boys, with heart aglow",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "To try their youthful vigour on their work,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Eager to learn and grow,",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "And quick to hate a coward or a shirk:",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "These constitute a school⁠—",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "A vital forge of weapons keen and bright,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Where living sword and tool",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "Are tempered for true toil or noble fight!",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "But let not wisdom scorn",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "The hours of pleasure in the playing fields:",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "There also strength is born,",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "And every manly game a virtue yields.",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Fairness and self-control,",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "Good-humour, pluck, and patience in the race,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Will make a lad heart-whole",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "To win with honour, lose without disgrace.",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Ah, well for him who gains",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "In such a school apprenticeship to life:",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "With him the joy of youth remains",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "In later lessons and in larger strife!",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "On Jersey’s rolling plain, where Washington,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "In midnight marching at the head",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Of ragged regiments, his army led",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "To Princeton’s victory of the rising sun;",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Here in this liberal land, by battle won",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "For Freedom and the rule",
    "indent": 2
   },
   {
    "text": "Of equal rights for every child of man,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Arose a democratic school,",
    "indent": 2
   },
   {
    "text": "To train a virile race of sons to bear",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "With thoughtful joy the name American,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And serve the God who heard their father’s prayer.",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "No cloister, dreaming in a world remote",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "From that real world wherein alone we live;",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "No mimic court, where titled names denote",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "A dignity that only worth can give;",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "But here a friendly house of learning stood,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "With open door beside the broad highway,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And welcomed lads to study and to play",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "In generous rivalry of brotherhood.",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "A hundred years have passed, and Lawrenceville,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "In beauty and in strength renewed,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Stands with her open portal still,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And neither time nor fortune brings",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "To her deep spirit any change of mood,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Or faltering from the faith she held of old.",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Still to the democratic creed she clings:",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "That manhood needs nor rank nor gold",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "To make it noble in our eyes;",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "That every boy is born with royal right,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "From blissful ignorance to rise",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "To joy more lasting and more bright,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "In mastery of body and of mind,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "King of himself and servant of mankind.",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "Old Lawrenceville,",
    "indent": 2
   },
   {
    "text": "Thy happy bell",
    "indent": 2
   },
   {
    "text": "Shall ring to-day,",
    "indent": 2
   },
   {
    "text": "O’er vale and hill,",
    "indent": 2
   },
   {
    "text": "O’er mead and dell,",
    "indent": 2
   },
   {
    "text": "While far away,",
    "indent": 2
   },
   {
    "text": "With silent thrill,",
    "indent": 2
   },
   {
    "text": "The echoes roll",
    "indent": 2
   },
   {
    "text": "Through many a soul,",
    "indent": 2
   },
   {
    "text": "That knew thee well,",
    "indent": 2
   },
   {
    "text": "In boyhood’s day,",
    "indent": 2
   },
   {
    "text": "And loves thee still.",
    "indent": 2
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "Ah, who can tell",
    "indent": 2
   },
   {
    "text": "How far away,",
    "indent": 2
   },
   {
    "text": "Some sentinel",
    "indent": 2
   },
   {
    "text": "Of God’s good will,",
    "indent": 2
   },
   {
    "text": "In forest cool,",
    "indent": 2
   },
   {
    "text": "Or desert gray,",
    "indent": 2
   },
   {
    "text": "By lonely pool,",
    "indent": 2
   },
   {
    "text": "Or barren hill,",
    "indent": 2
   },
   {
    "text": "Shall faintly hear,",
    "indent": 2
   },
   {
    "text": "With inward ear,",
    "indent": 2
   },
   {
    "text": "The chiming bell,",
    "indent": 2
   },
   {
    "text": "Of his old school,",
    "indent": 2
   },
   {
    "text": "Through darkness pealing;",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And lowly kneeling,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Shall feel the spell",
    "indent": 2
   },
   {
    "text": "Of grateful tears",
    "indent": 2
   },
   {
    "text": "His eyelids fill;",
    "indent": 2
   },
   {
    "text": "And softly pray",
    "indent": 2
   },
   {
    "text": "To Him who hears:",
    "indent": 2
   },
   {
    "text": "God bless old Lawrenceville!",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ]
 ]
}