There was a Boy; ye knew him well, ye cliffs br And islands of Winander!--many a time, br At evening, when the earliest stars began br To move along the edges of the hills, br Rising or setting, would he stand alone, br Beneath the trees, or by the glimmering lake; br And there, with fingers interwoven, both hands br Pressed closely palm to palm and to his mouth br Uplifted, he, as through an instrument, br Blew mimic hootings to the silent owls, br That they might answer him.--And they would shout br Across the watery vale, and shout again, br Responsive to his call,--with quivering peals, br And long halloos, and screams, and echoes loud br Redoubled and redoubled; concourse wild br Of jocund din! And, when there came a pause br Of silence such as baffled his best skill: br Then, sometimes, in that silence, while he hung br Listening, a gentle shock of mild surprise br Has carried far into his heart the voice br Of mountain-torrents; or the visible scene br Would enter unawares into his mind br With all its solemn imagery, its rocks, br Its woods, and that uncertain heaven received br Into the bosom of the steady lake. br This boy was taken from his mates, and died br In childhood, ere he was full twelve years old.