"Tinkle-te-tinkle," it said, close to the path beside me,
A low little laughing voice, and it drew my eyes to look;
Pattering drops of feet, now shall your rovings guide me;
Find me the pleasant places, you little love of a brook!
"Tinkle-te-tinkle," it said, "this way into the meadow,
Over the road, and down the bank, and under the bars;
And now we loiter a minute, here in the great oak's shadow,
And look at the field so noble, full of the daisy-stars.
"Tinkle-te-tinkle," it called, and I turned wondering whither;
Then how the roguish spirit laughed in its sleeve of green;
"Follow me, follow, follow"--curving hither and thither--
Hide and seek with a bright eye glancing behind a screen.
O the tiniest brook that ever threaded the grasses,
Flirting a kiss to the clover, flouting the sober grain;
That ever cried to itself, lost in the dark wood-passes,
And laughed like a child escaping into the light again.
"Tinkle-te-tinkle," it sang, under the green, green banner;
Summer is queen, and all the world to her court comes up;
Beautiful, gracious Summer is lady of all the manor,
And I am her little page that carries a crystal cup.
"Tinkle-te-tinkle," it paused, and a dainty basin filling,
Cried to its fellow-gypsy, "O bobolink, bobolink!
To June the world's delight"--and a wonderful stream of trilling
Answered the singing water--"O sweet heart, come and drink!"
Come and drink music, truly! I know he has been already,
For all his song is the brooklet's carried up on the wing;
"Tinkle-te-tinkle," went on the sweet little voice and steady;
And O to follow forever and listen and learn to sing!
