THE DESERTED GARDEN 



I MIND me in the days departed, 

 How often underneath the sun, 

 With childish bounds I used to run 

 To a garden long deserted. 



The beds and walks were vanished quite ; 

 And wheresoe'er had struck the spade, 

 The greenest grasses Nature laid, 

 To sanctify her right. 



I called the place my wilderness ; 

 For no one entered there but I. 

 The sheep looked in, the grass to espy, 

 And passed it ne'ertheless. 



The trees were interwoven wild, 

 And spread their boughs enough about 

 To keep both sheep and shepherd out, 

 But not a happy child. 



Adventurous joy it was for me ! 

 I crept beneath the boughs and found 

 A circle smooth of mossy ground 

 Beneath a poplar tree. 



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