The Mill-Pond + 

The sun blazed while the thunder yet + 

Added a boom: + 

A wagtail flickered bright over + 

The mill-pond’s gloom: + 

Less than the cooing in the alder + 

Isles of the pool + 

Sounded the thunder through that plunge + 

Of waters cool. + 

Scared starlings on the aspen tip + 

Past the black mill + 

Outchattered the stream and the next roar + 

Far on the hill. + 

As my feet dangling teased the foam + 

That slid below + 

A girl came out. “Take care!” she said⁠— + 

Ages ago. + 

She startled me, standing quite close + 

Dressed all in white: + 

Ages ago I was angry till + 

She passed from sight. + 

Then the storm burst, and as I crouched + 

To shelter, how + 

Beautiful and kind, too, she seemed, + 

As she does now! + 