GLOUCESTERSHIRE FROM THE TRAIN

The golden fields wheel round—

Their spokes, green hedges;

And at the galloping sound

Of the train, from watery sedges

Arise familiar birds.

Pools brown, and blue, and green,

Criss-crossed with shadows,

Flash by, and in between

Gloucestershire meadows

Lie speckled red with herds.

A little flying farm,

With humped grey back

Against the rays that warm

To gold a last-year stack,

Like a friendly cat appears;

And so through gloom and gleam

Continues dwindling,

While in my heart a dream

Of home awakes to kindling

Fire, and falling tears.