Poem by William Ernest Henley

Attadale, West Highlands

                 To A. J.

A black and glassy float, opaque and still,
The loch, at furthest ebb supine in sleep,
Reversing, mirrored in its luminous deep
The calm grey skies; the solemn spurs of hill;
Heather, and corn, and wisps of loitering haze;
The wee white cots, black-hatted, plumed with smoke;
The braes beyond—and when the ripple awoke,
They wavered with the jarred and wavering glaze.
The air was hushed and dreamy.  Evermore
A noise of running water whispered near.
A straggling crow called high and thin.  A bird
Trilled from the birch-leaves.  Round the shingled shore,
Yellow with weed, there wandered, vague and clear,
Strange vowels, mysterious gutturals, idly heard.

1. Rhymes and Rhythms. 21. When the Wind Storms by with a Shout, and the Stern Sea-Caves
2. In Hospital. 12. Etching
3. Envoy
4. Echoes. 44. If It Should Come to Be
5. In Hospital. 7. Vigil

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