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THE BROOKSIDE, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: I wandered by the brookside
Last Line: Was all the sound we heard.
Alternate Author Name(s): Houghton, 1st Baron; Houghton, Lord
Subject(s): Brooks; Courtship; Streams; Creeks


I WANDERED by the brookside,
I wandered by the mill;
I could not hear the brook flow, --
The noisy wheel was still;
There was no burr of grasshopper,
No chirp of any bird,
But the beating of my own heart
Was all the sound I heard.
I sat beneath the elm-tree;
I watched the long, long shade,
And, as it grew still longer,
I did not feel afraid;
For I listened for a footfall,
I listened for a word, --
But the beating of my own heart
Was all the sound I heard.
He came not, -- no, he came not, --
The night came on alone, --
The little stars sat, one by one,
Each on his golden throne;
The evening wind passed by my cheek,
The leaves above were stirred, --
But the beating of my own heart
Was all the sound I heard.
Fast silent tears were flowing,
When something stood behind;
A hand was on my shoulder, --
I knew its touch was kind:
It drew me nearer, -- nearer, --
We did not speak one word,
For the beating of our own hearts
Was all the sound we heard.




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