Nowhere such a devious stream, br Save in fancy or in dream, br Winding slow through bush and brake, br Links together lake and lake. br br Walled with woods or sandy shelf, br Ever doubling on itself br Flows the stream, so still and slow br That it hardly seems to flow. br br Never errant knight of old, br Lost in woodland or on wold, br Such a winding path pursued br Through the sylvan solitude. br br Never school-boy, in his quest br After hazel-nut or nest, br Through the forest in and out br Wandered loitering thus about. br br In the mirror of its tide br Tangled thickets on each side br Hang inverted, and between br Floating cloud or sky serene. br br Swift or swallow on the wing br Seems the only living thing, br Or the loon, that laughs and flies br Down to those reflected skies. br br Silent stream! thy Indian name br Unfamiliar is to fame; br For thou hidest here alone, br Well content to be unknown. br br But thy tranquil waters teach br Wisdom deep as human speech, br Moving without haste or noise br In unbroken equipoise. br br Though thou turnest no busy mill, br And art ever calm and still, br Even thy silence seems to say br To the traveller on his way:-- br br 'Traveller, hurrying from the heat br Of the city, stay thy feet! br Rest awhile, nor longer waste br Life with inconsiderate haste! br br 'Be not like a stream that brawls br Loud with shallow waterfalls, br But in quiet self-control br Link together soul and soul.