Classic Poem

The bars on the woody ridge outspan
The gap where the shining skies may show
The people, that clamber to and fro,
Woman by woman, man by man.

To strangers that once may reach the gap,
How fair is the dell beyond the ridge,
With houses, and trees, and church, and bridge,
Wood upon wood, and knap by knap.

Down here may be pleasant ways to rove;
But oh! 'tis another place, behind
The bars, that would take the most my mind,
Orchard by orchard, grove by grove.

When under the moon, the bars' smooth ledge,
Rubb'd up to a gloss, is bright as glass,
And shadows outmark, on dewy grass,
Rail upon rail, and edge by edge;

Then there is my way, where nightwinds sound
So softly on boughs, where lights and shades
Are playing on slopes, by hills and glades,
Tree upon tree, and mound by mound.