Scenes Poem by Della Hodgson James

Many restful scenes in life there be
Of things that appear so peacefully,  
Some rest the body, soul and mind
Just natural scenes of peace sublime.
So natural doth one scene appear
I've witnessed it year after year,  
This scene I'll tell you all about
Mayhaps yourself might find this out.

It's from the top of a mountain high
Where beneath is a river murmuring by,  
There's fields, and meadows, and pasture nooks
Cattle and trees as in story books.

There's houses, where a road goes winding by
There's a little white church standing nigh,  
Along this road the traffic creeps
Like industrious ants that never sleep.

A village there, with it's busy life
Where the miller lives, with his pleasant wife,  
The river winds on its southward way
To meet little brooklets every day.

Around about on every hand
Are scores on evergreens, always grand,  
The morning sun peeks over the eastern hill
And touches the gables of the old flour mill.

Bathes this scene in gold, and there's nowhere
That scenes can quite with this one compare,  
Ten million stars, from the earth doth glint
Reflections in dewdrops all iridescent.

As one pauses to view these changing scenes
Life is alive, below in the stream,  
A giant Kingfisher goes gliding by
When abreast, he startles, with his harsh cry.

An eagle is soaring, on his daily quest
While a cardinal close by, is building her nest,  
Still I've not half told, what there is to see
But I'm wondering how many would agree with me.

When wintry winds crystalizes the air
And freezes the fog, lo everywhere,  
Every leaf and twig, every branch and spray
No matter how dull, drab or gray.

Is touched by the mystery of miraculous hands
Like the fairies who wield their magic wands,  
Everything is covered with crystal spines
Lovelier than I could describe in a million times.

Tis scenes for an artist's paint and palate
Or where writers could write with no regret,  
But it's mine to enjoy, though I just sit and dream
While I'm viewing the landscape by the stream.

The scenes from the top of this picturesque hill
In winter, or summer, would give you a thrill,  
From the flower strewn ledges, east of the crest
Is where I have found, the views are best.

Well I think you have guessed
It's beside Northfork fountain,  
And these views I have witnessed, are
From the top of Dawt mountain.