Classic Poem

O for that sweet untroubled rest
That Poets oft have sung
The babe upon its Mothers breast
The bird upon its young
The heart asleep without a pain
When shall I know that sleep again.

When shall I be as I have been
Upon my Mothers breast
Sweet nature's garb of verdant green
To woo my former rest
Lone in the meadow field & plain
& in my native wilds again.

The sheep within the fallow field
The bird upon the green
The Larks that in the thistle's shield
& pipe from morn to e'en
O for the pasture fields & fen
When shall I see such rest agen

I love the weeds along the fen
More sweet then garden flowers
Freedom haunts the humble glen
That blest my happiest hours
Here prisons injure health & me
I love sweet freedom & the free

The crows upon the swelling hills
The cows upon the lea
Sheep feeding by the pasture rills
Are ever dear to me
Because sweet freedom is their mate
While I am lone & desolate

I loved the winds when I was young
When life was dear to me
I loved the song which nature sung
Endearing Liberty
I loved the wood the dale the stream
For then my boyhood used to dream

Then toil itself was even play
'Twas pleasure e'en to weep
Twas joy to think of dreams by day
The beautifull of sleep
When shall I see the wood & plain
& dream those happy dreams again.