Down the golden braided center of your current swift and strong,

And the dragon-fly that lit

On the tilting rim of it,

And sailed away, and wasn't scared a bit!

And sing how oft in glee

Came a truant boy like me

Who loved to lean and listen to your lilting melody,

Till the gurgle and refrain

Of your music in his brain

Caused a happiness as deep to him as pain!