Along the garden ways just now br I heard the flowers speak; br The white rose told me of your brow, br The red rose of your cheek; br The lily of your bended head, br The bindweed of your hair: br Each looked its loveliest and said br You were more fair. br br I went into the wood anon, br And heard the wild birds sing br How sweet you were; they warbled on, br Piped, trilled the self-same thing. br Thrush, blackbird, linnet, without pause, br The burden did repeat, br And still began again because br You were more sweet. br br And then I went down to the sea, br And heard it murmuring too, br Part of an ancient mystery, br All made of me and you. br How many a thousand years ago br I loved, and you were sweet-- br Longer I could not stay, and so br I fled back to your feet.