The Village Schoolmaster

- By Oliver Goldsmith.

Beside yon straggling fence that skirts the way With blossom'd furze unprofitably gay,
There, in his mansion ,skill'd to rule,
The village master taught his little school;
A man severe he was , and stern to view,
I knew him well , and every truant knew;
Well had the boding tremblers learn'd to trace
The days disasters in his morning face ;
Full well they laugh'd with counterfeited glee,
At all his jokes, for many a joke had he :
Full well the busy whisper, circling round,
Convey'd the dismal tidings when he frown'd :
Yet he was kind ; or if severe in aught,
The love he bore to learning was in fault.
The village all declar'd how much he knew ;
'Twas certain he could write, and cipher too :
Lands he could measure, terms and tides presage,
And e'en the story ran that he could gauge.
In arguing. too, the person own'd his skill,
For e'en though vanquish'd he could argue still ;
While words of learned length and thund'ring sound
Amazed the gazing rustics rang'd around ;
And still they gaz'd and still the wonder grew,
That one small head could carry all he knew.
But past is all his fame. The very spot
Where many a time he triumph'd is forgot.

Taken from : here.
(The link also contains another poem, titled "Sweet Auburn", which is also a good poem.)
I loved this poem, "The Village Schoolmaster" for various reasons.
Most of us can fondly recollect their own school days when they might have had a stern teacher who was knowledgeable and fits into Mr.Goldsmith's description of this poem's protagonist.
The vivid detail through which he paints the picture of the village schoolmaster is praiseworthy. Also, he shows different people's perspectives on the schoolmaster.
The poem exuberates a strong sense of nostalgia with undertones of melancholy.

For teacher's notes and commentary on this poem, please click here.