 | The Poems of Mackenzie Bell |  |
IX.
A tranquil, sunlit village green
Sees one young Englishman: between
A row of elms he catches sight
Of one dear cottage; to the right
Lies the grey rectory, and beyond
Old Farmer Granger's ricks and pond,
Just where the high road quickly dips.
Here as a child he sailed his ships,
While loafers from the alehouse near
Gladdened his heart by words of cheer,
And showed him how to set his sail,
To woo the soft, the favouring gale.
Sees one young Englishman: between
100
Of one dear cottage; to the right
Lies the grey rectory, and beyond
Old Farmer Granger's ricks and pond,
Just where the high road quickly dips.
Here as a child he sailed his ships,
While loafers from the alehouse near
Gladdened his heart by words of cheer,
And showed him how to set his sail,
To woo the soft, the favouring gale.
He sees again the long sea beach
A mile or two from home; the reach
The farm-folk call the Little Broad
Gleams in the sun, while boys applaud
His feats of strength; or on the sea
Perchance he rows right merrily,
While myriad skylarks, singing, soar
Above the sand cliffs on the shore;
Or looking seaward from the land
He views the sunset vague and grand.
A mile or two from home; the reach
The farm-folk call the Little Broad
Gleams in the sun, while boys applaud
His feats of strength; or on the sea
Perchance he rows right merrily,
While myriad skylarks, singing, soar
Above the sand cliffs on the shore;
Or looking seaward from the land
He views the sunset vague and grand.
| The Poems of Mackenzie Bell | |