A lovely bit of dappled green
Shut in the circling hills between,
While farther off blue mountains stand
Like giant guards on either hand.
The quiet road in still repose
Follows where’er the river flows;
And in and out it glides along,
Enchanted by the rippling song.
Afar, I see the steepled town
From yonder hillside looking down;
And sometimes, when the south wind swells,
Hear the faint chiming of its bells.
But under these embowering trees,
Lulled by the hum of droning bees,
The old brown farmhouse seems to sleep,
So calm its rest is and so deep.
Yonder, beside the rustic bridge,
From which the path climbs yonder ridge,
The lazy cattle seek the shade
By the umbrageous willows made.
The sky is like a hollow pearl,
Save where warm sunset clouds unfurl
Their flaming colors. Lo! a star,
Even as I gaze, gleams forth afar!