Classic Poem

As day might cool, and in the pool
The shaded waves might ripple dim,
We used to walk, or sit in talk,
Below the limetree's leaning limb,
Where willows' drooping boughs might fall
Around us, near the garden wall.

Where children's heads on evening beds,
In dull-ear'd sleep, were settled sound,
The moon's bright ring would slowly spring
From down behind the woody mound,
With light that slanted down on all
The willows nigh the garden wall.

By roof-eaves spread up over head,
There clung the wren's brown nest of hay,
In wind to make the ivy shake,
And your dark locks of hair to play,
As there you told the news of all
The day, beside the garden wall.

The while the sun had far to run,
On high, above the green-tree'd land,
Few days would come for jaunts from home,
And none without some work on hand,
Yet we enjoy'd at eveningfall
Our bench beside the garden wall.

Our flowers blew, our fruit well grew,
To hang in air, or lie on ground;
Our bees would hum, or go and come,
By small-door'd hives, well hackled round.
All this we had, and over all
Our bench beside the garden wall.