I Knew By The Smoke

By Thomas Moore

I knew by the smoke that so gracefully curl'd
Above the green elms, that a cottage was near,
And I said, If there's peace to be found in the world,
A heart that is humble might hope for it here!

It was noon, and on flowers that languish'd around
In silence reposed the voluptuous bee;
Every leaf was at rest, and I heard not a sound
But the woodpecker tapping the hollow beech-tree.

And, Here in this lone little wood, I exclaim'd,
With a maid who was lovely to soul and to eye,
Who would blush when I praised her, and weep if I blamed,
How blest could I live, and how calm could I die!

By the shade of yon sumach, whose red berry dips
In the gush of the fountain, how sweet to recline,
And to know that I sigh'd upon innocent lips,
Which had never been sigh'd on by any but mine!