I sat and watched the water fall

Adown the gray rocks rough and tall,

Which Nature there did robe and crown

With marvellous wealth of green and brown.

A small white butterfly did flit

Across the rainbowed breast of it.

One up on high, one down below,

I saw two monkshood clusters grow.

The long fair grasstufts which the sun

In southering glory looked upon

Lay soft and delicate, like the hair

Of little maidens kneeling there;

And the high mountains caught the glow

On crests of everlasting snow.

The whortleberries on the bank

Beside me of the sunshine drank,

That flushed their green to living red;

And on the happy air was shed

The sunkissed pinetrees’ quickening scent;

Its fragrance through and through me went.

The little ants moved busily

O'er shed pine–needles close to me;

And now and then the human folk

Passed by; I knew not if they spoke

Or no, because the water sang

So loud, and bonny bell–flowers rang;

And budding grasses at my feet

Thrilled as they felt the live air beat

In rhythmic rapture all around,

A glory of sense and light and sound.

Through voiceful peace and restful stir

There Nature drew me so to her,

That, were it but for once, I vaunt

I knew not either wish or want.