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• Between Holmscote and Hurstcote
• The river-reaches wind,
• The whispering trees accept the breeze,
• The ripple's cool and kind:
• With love low-whispered 'twixt the shores,
• With rippling laughters gay,
• With white arms bared to ply the oars,
• On last year's first of May.

• Between Holmscote and Hurstcote
• 10 The river's brimmed with rain,
• Through close-met banks and parted banks
• Now near now far again:
• With parting tears caressed to smiles,
• With meeting promised soon,
• With every sweet vow that beguiles,
• On last year's first of June.

• Between Holmscote and Hurstcote
• The river's flecked with foam,
• 'Neath shuddering clouds that hang in shrouds
• 20 And lost winds wild for home:
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• With infant wailings at the breast,
• With homeless steps astray,
• With wanderings shuddering towards one rest,
• On this year's first of May.

• Between Holmscote and Hurstcote
• The summer river flows
• With doubled flight of moons by night
• And lilies' deep repose:
• With lo! beneath the moon's white stare
• 30 A white face not the moon,
• With lilies meshed in tangled hair,
• On this year's first of June.

• Between Holmscote and Hurstcote
• A troth was given and riven,
• From heart's trust grew one life to two,
• Two lost lives cry to Heaven:
• With banks spread calm to meet the sky,
• With meadows newly mowed,
• The harvest-paths of glad July,
• 40 The sweet school-children's road.

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