Doleful was the land, br Dull on, every side, br Neither soft n'or grand, br Barren, bleak, and wide; br Nothing look'd with love; br All was dingy brown; br The very skies above br Seem'd to sulk and frown. br br Plodding sick and sad, br Weary day on day; br Searching, never glad, br Many a miry way; br Poor existence lagg'd br In this barren place; br While the seasons dragg'd br Slowly o'er its face. br br Spring, to sky and ground, br Came before I guess'd; br Then one day I found br A valley, like a nest! br Guarded with a spell br Sure it must have been, br This little fairy dell br Which I had never seen. br br Open to the blue, br Green banks hemm'd it round br A rillet wander'd through br With a tinkling sound; br Briars among the rocks br Tangled arbours made; br Primroses in flocks br Grew beneath their shade. br br Merry birds a few, br Creatures wildly tame, br Perch'd and sung and flew; br Timid field-mice came; br Beetles in the moss br Journey'd here and there; br Butterflies across br Danced through sunlit air. br br There I often read, br Sung alone, or dream'd; br Blossoms overhead, br Where the west wind stream'd; br Small horizon-line, br Smoothly lifted up, br Held this world of mine br In a grassy cup. br br The barren land to-day br Hears my last adieu: br Not an hour I stay; br Earth is wide and new.