A narrow fellow in the grass br Occasionally rides; br You may have met him,--did you not, br His notice sudden is. br br The grass divides as with a comb, br A spotted shaft is seen; br And then it closes at your feet br And opens further on. br br He likes a boggy acre, br A floor too cool for corn. br Yet when a child, and barefoot, br I more than once, at morn, br br Have passed, I thought, a whip-lash br Unbraiding in the sun,-- br When, stooping to secure it, br It wrinkled, and was gone. br br Several of nature's people br I know, and they know me; br I feel for them a transport br Of cordiality; br br But never met this fellow, br Attended or alone, br Without a tighter breathing, br And zero at the bone.