The primrose and the purple of the sky.

The boat pressed ever through the weeds and sedge

Which, rustling, clung her steadfast prow around;

The iris nodded at the water's edge,

Bats in the elm trees made a ghostly sound;

With whirring wings a wild duck sprang to sight

And flew, black-winged, towards the crimson light,

Leaving my solitude the more profound.

We moved towards the church, my boat and I—

The church that at the marsh edge stands alone;