Classic Poem

Farewell, ferns and heather!
Cousin with dark eyes!
Farewell, golden weather,
Cloudless skies:

Farewell, Church and river;
Farewell, park and mead
Where the larches quiver, —
Sedge and reed:

Farewell, forest gleaming
Now with autumn gold
Where I wandered dreaming
Dreams of old:

Farewell, friends whose tender
Love and help and care
Doubled all the splendour
Of soft air;

Friends who made the alleys
Sweeter from their tread,
And the fir-lined valleys
Bracken-red:

Farewell; — I may never
See the heather glow
Here again, but ever
(That I know)

Will my heart remember
These glad autumn days;
This red-leaved September
With me stays:

And the friendly faces
And the brown trout-brooks
And the mossy places, —
Silent nooks.

All the swift short drama,
Trust me, entered deep,
Bright as panorama,
My soul's sleep, —

Waking memories olden
That will now abide,
Silver-plumed and golden,
At my side.

Far from forest-glory
Must my footstep fly:
Far from lichens hoary
And clear sky;

Far from heather-dingle,
Far from ferny dell,
Far from pines that mingle
Their rich smell;

Far from hazel-coppice,
Far from blackberry-brake,
Corn and grass and poppies,
Stream and lake.

To the great smoke-city
Must I wend my way:
Take this farewell ditty,
Friends, I pray;

Ere I, saddened, leave you,
For your kindness long
What I can I give you —
Just this song!