Iii

Then in the autumn, by the waterside, Leaf-huddled; or along the weed-grown walks, He dirges low the flowers that have died, Or with their ghosts holds solitary talks. Lover of warmth, all day above the click And crunching of the sorghum-press, through thick Sweet steam of juice; all night when, white as chalk, The hunter’s-moon hangs o’er the rustling rick, Within the barn ’mid munching cow and steer,-- Soft as a memory the heart holds dear,-- We hear his Cheer, cheer, cheer.