Here's why:
* Bower: A bower is a leafy, secluded shelter, often associated with nature and peace.
* Innocence: The poem contrasts the boy's joy and freedom in the bower with the harsh realities of school and societal expectations. He longs to be "among the leaves" where he can feel "gay and happy."
* Childlike Freedom: The bower symbolizes the boy's natural state of being, before the constraints of education and adulthood impose themselves upon him.
The poem is a poignant reminder of the loss of innocence and the inevitable transition from childhood to adulthood.