Smooth as polished agate betwixt the bristling leaves.

Little flitting creatures, dragon-fly or day-moth,

Sipping at your waters mount in small alarms,

Start to fly across you, fly and fly for ever,

Beaten back and dying in your bitter, sea-cold arms.

Off away to seaward, where you spread your widest,

Clare leans out to meet you, stretches forth an arm,

Infinitely lonely, desolately stony,

Scarce a waving sky-line, scarce a field or farm.

Swift the nimble Fancy leaps that narrow rampart,