SongInscribedToAlexanderCunningham

songinscribedtoalexandercunningham

nowspringhascladthegroveingreen,

andstrew'dtheleawi'flowers;

thefurrow'd,wavingcornisseen

rejoiceinfosteringshowers.

whileilkathinginnaturejoin

theirsorrowstoforego,

owhythusallalonearemine

thewearystepso'woe!

thetroutinyonderwimplingburn

thatglides,asilverdart,

and,safebeneaththeshadythorn,

defiestheangler'sart—

mylifewasancethatcarelessstream,

thatwantontroutwasi;

butlove,wi'unrelentingbeam,

hasscorch'dmyfountainsdry.

thatlittlefloweret'speacefullot,

inyondercliffthatgrows,

which,savethelinnet'sflight,iwot,

naerudervisitknows,

wasmine,tilllovehaso'ermepast,

andblighteda'mybloom;

andnow,beneaththewitheringblast,

myyouthandjoyconsume.

thewaken'dlav'rockwarblingsprings,

andclimbstheearlysky,

winnowingblythehisdewywings

inmorning'srosyeye;

aslittlereck'disorrow'spower,

untiltheflowerysnare

o'witchinglove,inlucklesshour,

mademethethrallo'care.

ohadmyfatebeengreenlandsnows,

orafric'sburningzone,

wi'manandnatureleaguedmyfoes,

soyne'eri'dknown!

thewretchwhosedoomis“hopenaemair”

whattonguehiswoescantell;

withinwhasebosom,savedespair,

naekinderspiritsdwell.