Shepherd Boy and Nereid

Ah, once of old in some forgotten tongue, Forgotten land, I was a shepherd boy, And you a Nereid, a wingèd joy: On through the dawn-bright peaks our bodies swung And flower-soft lyrics by immortals sung Fell from their unseen pinnacles in air: God looked from Heaven that hour, for you were fair, And I a poet, and the star was young.

You’d heard my woodland pipe and left the sea— Your hair blown gold and all your body white— Had left the ocean-girls to follow me. We joined the hill-nymphs in their joyous flight, And you laughed lightly to the sea, and sent Quick glances flashing through me as I went.