The Village Bell

He was a high-strung city chap

     On his vacation bent;

And to a quiet country town

     He packed his grip and went.

He longed for quiet, peace and rest

     Of which he’d heard them tell;

He longed to hear the slumberous stream,

     The soothing village bell.

He wandered in the shady groves,

     Along the murmuring stream;

Alas! One day he saw a face,

     A blushing, rustic dream.

He heard her joyous, rippling tones,

     He saw her eyes as well;

No more he saw the shady grove,

     Or heard the village bell.

By day by night he courted her

     With speed ne’er seen before;

The peace and rest he sought to find

     Appealed to him no more.

Alas! The day too quickly came

     When he must say farewell;

He left the woods and stream behind,

     But took the village belle.

July 16, ‘09