'Tis One by One -- the Father counts --
And then a Tract between
Set Cypherless -- to teach the Eye
The Value of its Ten --

Until the peevish Student
Acquire the Quick of Skill --
Then Numerals are dowered back --
Adorning all the Rule --

'Tis mostly Slate and Pencil --
And Darkness on the School
Distracts the Children's fingers --
Still the Eternal Rule

Regards least Cypherer alike
With Leader of the Band --
And every separate Urchin's Sum --
Is fashioned for his hand --

Added: Jan 9 2004 | Viewed: 1719 times | Comments (0)

Poet: Emily Dickinson
Poem: 545. 'Tis One by One -- the Father counts --
Volume: Complete Poems of Emily Dickinson
Year: Published/Written in 1955
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