David Gray

A Lime-tree Broad of Bough and Rough of Trunk

A lime-tree broad of bough and rough of trunk

Deepens a shadow, as the evening cool,

Over the Luggie gathering in deep pool

Contemplative, its waters summer-shrunk ;

 

The Lammas floodshave sucked away the mould

About its roots, and now in bare sunshine

Like knot of snakes they twine and intertwine

Fantastic implication, fold in fold.

 

Secure in covert,'neath the fringing fern

Lurks the bright-speckled trout, untroubled, save

When boyhood with a glorious unconcern

 

Eagerly plunges in the sleeping wave.

Here the much-musing poet might recapture

The inspiration flown,the vagrant rapture.