Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, ed. Poems of Places: An Anthology in 31 Volumes.
England: Vols. I–IV. 1876–79.
A Farewell to the Valley of Irwan
By John Langhorne (1735–1779)F
My infant years where Fancy led,
And soothed me with the western gale,
Her wild dreams waving round my head,
While the blithe blackbird told his tale.
Farewell the fields of Irwan’s vale!
The green thyme on the mountain’s head,
The wanton rose, the daisy pied,
The wilding’s blossom blushing red;
No longer I their sweets inhale.
Farewell the fields of Irwan’s vale!
Has evening closed my careless eye!
How oft along those banks I ’ve strayed,
And watched the wave that wandered by;
Full long their loss shall I bewail.
Farewell the fields of Irwan’s vale!
To mark the close of parting day,
Along yon flowery banks to rove,
And watch the wave that winds away,
Fair Fancy sure shall never fail,
Though far from these and Irwan’s vale.