| Edmund Clarence Stedman, ed. (1833–1908). An American Anthology, 1787–1900. 1900. |
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| 1006. Every One to His Own Way |
| | | By John Vance Cheney |
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| OAK leaves are big as the mouse’s ear, | |
| So, farmer, go plant. But the frost— | |
| Beware! the witch o’ the year, | |
| See that her palm be crossed. | |
| The bee is abroad, and the ant; | 5 |
| Spider is busy; ho, farmer, go plant. | |
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| The winds blow soft from the glazy sea, | |
| So, merchant, rig ship. But the wave— | |
| Beware! salt water can be | |
| A highway, can be a grave. | 10 |
| Bring silks for milady; a trip | |
| For wines and spices; ho, merchant, rig ship. | |
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| I heard round oath at the churchyard door, | |
| So, preacher, go preach. But the Book— | |
| Say yea and nay, and no more; | 15 |
| Look to the wording, look. | |
| A heaven and a hell within reach, | |
| ’T is one or the other; good preacher, go preach. | |
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| Farmer, go till; ride, merchant, the sea; | |
| Good preacher, have at the mewed folk: | 20 |
| From frost and storm be you free, | |
| And spared That Old Serpent’s joke. | |
| I ’ll sit in my doorway, God please, | |
| Quietly looking between the green trees. | |
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