 | Wood-notes and Church-bells |  |
260
ON A BURN OR BROOK WITHOUT A NAME
WHICH RUNS THROUGH NUNBURNHOLME AND BURNBY.
Sweet burn, a poet's tribute thou dost claim,And rural neighbours will the praise endorse,
Who watch thee smiling, singing from thy source,
To bless thy native valley all thine aim.
Nameless thyself, yet thou hast given a name
To village after village in thy course,
For others' sake expending all thy force,
Intent on usefulness and not on fame.
We hear thee rippling with a pleasant lay
By bridge and garden, and the lesson own,
That song and sunshine cheer the useful way
Of those who live not for themselves alone—
That we—our duty done from day to day—
Shall live in others, though ourselves unknown.
| Wood-notes and Church-bells | |