A black and glassy float, opaque and still, br The loch, at furthest ebb supine in sleep, br Reversing, mirrored in its luminous deep br The calm grey skies; the solemn spurs of hill; br Heather, and corn, and wisps of loitering haze; br The wee white cots, black-hatted, plumed with smoke; br The braes beyond--and when the ripple awoke, br They wavered with the jarred and wavering glaze. br The air was hushed and dreamy. Evermore br A noise of running water whispered near. br A straggling crow called high and thin. A bird br Trilled from the birch-leaves. Round the shingled shore, br Yellow with weed, there wandered, vague and clear, br Strange vowels, mysterious gutturals, idly heard.