First of earthly singers, the sun-loved rill,

Sang of him, and flooded the ripples on the reed,

Seeking whom to waken and what ear fill.

Water, sweetest soother to kiss a wound and cool,

Sweetest and divinest, the sky-born brook,

Chuckled, with a whimper, and made a mirror-pool

Round the guest we welcomed, the strange hand shook.

God! of whom music

And song and blood are pure,

The day is never darkened