AS in their flight the birds of song br Halt here and there in sweet and sunny dales, br But halt not overlong; br The time one rural song to sing br They pause; then following bounteous gales br Steer forward on the wing: br Sun-servers they, from first to last, br Upon the sun they wait br To ride the sailing blast. br br So he awhile in our contested state, br Awhile abode, not longer, for his Sun - br Mother we say, no tenderer name we know - br With whose diviner glow br His early days had shone, br Now to withdraw her radiance had begun. br Or lest a wrong I say, not she withdrew, br But the loud stream of men day after day br And great dust columns of the common way br Between them grew and grew: br And he and she for evermore might yearn, br But to the spring the rivulets not return br Nor to the bosom comes the child again. br br And he (O may we fancy so!), br He, feeling time forever flow br And flowing bear him forth and far away br From that dear ingle where his life began br And all his treasure lay - br He, waxing into man, br And ever farther, ever closer wound br In this obstreperous world's ignoble round, br From that poor prospect turned his face away.