RIOUPEROUX

By James Elroy Flecker

High and solemn mountains guard Riouperoux,

- Small untidy village where the river drives a mill:

Frail as wood anemones, white and frail were you,

And drooping a little, like the slender daffodil.

Oh I will go to France again, and tramp the valley through,

And I will change these gentle clothes for clog and corduroy,

And work with the mill-hands of black Riouperoux,

And walk with you, and talk with you, like any other boy.