Our Boyhood Haunts

Ho! I'm going back to where     We were youngsters. - Meet me there,     Dear old barefoot chum, and we     Will be as we used to be, -     Lawless rangers up and down     The old creek beyond the town -     Little sunburnt gods at play,     Just as in that far-away: -     Water nymphs, all unafraid,     Shall smile at us from the brink     Of the old millrace and wade     Tow'rd us as we kneeling drink     At the spring our boyhood knew,     Pure and clear as morning-dew:     And, as we are rising there,     Doubly dow'rd to hear and see,     We shall thus be made aware     Of an eerie piping, heard     High above the happy bird     In the hazel: And then we,     Just across the creek, shall see     (Hah! the goaty rascal!) Pan     Hoof it o'er the sloping green,     Mad with his own melody,     Aye, and (bless the beasty man!)     Stamping from the grassy soil     Bruisd scents of fleur-de-lis,     Boneset, mint and pennyroyal.