RETURN TO AN OLD HOME.

In this wood — how the hazels have grown!—

I left a treasure all my own

Of childish kisses and laughter and pain;

Left, till I might come back again

To take from the familiar earth

My hoarded secret and count its worth.

And all the spider-work of the years,

All the time-spun gossamers,

Dewed with each succeeding spring;

And the piled up leaves the Autumns fling

To the sweet corruption of death on death....

At the sudden stir of my spirit's breath

All scattered. New and fair and bright

As ever it was, before my sight

The treasure lay, and nothing missed.

So having handled all and kissed,

I put them back, adding one new

And precious memory of you.