Sweet Ouleout! thy beauty charms
The soul of one who has the eye.
The true deep sense of poesy.
'Tis a delight to see thee now
Sleep on and dream among the grass
And flowers, soft-breathing in the sun;
Kissed by its beams of fire and gold.
Ouleout! in thy pure face
1 see fairest of June-blue skies —
Fleece-clouds from Nature's finest loom-
A livery fit for gods to' wear.
And, when the twilight, gray and still.
Greets the faint blush of fading day,
I see all twinkling, glittering there
The diamond stars upon thy breast
And, as they breathe their vesper hymns —
All turn to dreams within my soul.
O Song-delight to thee and me!
Sweet Ouleout — my earth-born heaven!
Prized gem of Nature, pure, serene;
Much would I give to know thy thoughts-
Thy speech primeval, and thy dreams —
How I would love to make them all
My own, and in thy innocence
Live as becometh Nature's child.
Sweet Baby-stream so beauteous!
So simple and so innocent,
Alas! too soon, lost wilt thou be
In the dark river's restless breast.
But pray, loved Ouleout, sing on!
Thy song of sun-bathed hills, and dales.
Of blowing flowers, and piping birds,
Or drowsy clouds, and dreaming stars.
When in the dark, strange, swirling depths
Sing on! as thou art whisp'ring now
Thy music through the emerald way.