Sonnet: To the River Otter (unsourced)

Dear native Brook! wild Streamlet of the West! How many various-fated years have past, What happy, and what mournful hours, since last I skimm'd the smooth thin stone along thy breast, Numbering its light leaps! yet so deep impresst Sink the sweet scenes of childhood, that mine eyes I never shut amid the sunny ray, But straight with all their tints their waters rise, Thy crossing plank, thy marge with willows grey, And bedded sand that vein'd with various dyes Gleamed through thy bright transparence! On my way, Visions of childhood! oft have ye beguiled Lone manhood's cares, yet waking fondest sighs. Ah! that I were once more a careless child!