While the water-bugs raced round and laughed at him!

Little Brook—sing a song

Of a leaf that sailed along,

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

And a dragon-fly that lit

On the tilting rim of it,

And rode 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,