Sunburnt Boys

Down on the Lumbee river

Where the eddies ripple cool

Your boat, I know, glides stealthily

About some shady pool.

The summer's heats have lulled asleep

The fish-hawk's chattering noise,

And all the swamp lies hushed about

You sunburnt boys.

You see the minnow's waves that rock

The cradled lily leaves.

From a far field some farmer's song,

Singing among his sheaves,

Comes mellow to you where you sit,

Each man with boatman's poise,

There, in the shimmering water lights,

You sunburnt boys.

I know your haunts: each gnarly bole

That guards the waterside,

Each tuft of flags and rushes where

The river reptiles hide,

Each dimpling nook wherein the bass

His eager life employs

Until he dies — the captive of

You sunburnt boys.

You will not — will you?— soon forget

When I was one of you,

Nor love me less that time has borne

My craft to currents new;

Nor shall I ever cease to share

Your hardships and your joys,

Robust, rough-spoken, gentle-hearted

Sunburnt boys!