WHERE the city's ceaseless crowd moves on, the live-long day, br Withdrawn, I join a group of children watching--I pause aside with br them. br br By the curb, toward the edge of the flagging, br A knife-grinder works at his wheel, sharpening a great knife; br Bending over, he carefully holds it to the stone--by foot and knee, br With measur'd tread, he turns rapidly--As he presses with light but br firm hand, br Forth issue, then, in copious golden jets, br Sparkles from the wheel. br br br The scene, and all its belongings--how they seize and affect me! br The sad, sharp-chinn'd old man, with worn clothes, and broad br shoulder-band of leather; 10 br Myself, effusing and fluid--a phantom curiously floating--now here br absorb'd and arrested; br br The group, (an unminded point, set in a vast surrounding;) br The attentive, quiet children--the loud, proud, restive base of the br streets; br The low, hoarse purr of the whirling stone--the light-press'd blade, br Diffusing, dropping, sideways-darting, in tiny showers of gold, br Sparkles from the wheel.