A brook slept through an afternoon,
And as it slept it dreamed the while;
It talked in sleep with childlike croon,
And rippled in a sunny smile.

It dreamed of children that had played
Along its banks as on it ran:
Then fixed its thought on one that strayed,
More fair than all,—the little man!

On one that strayed; and then the gleam
Of sunshine changed to shade profound:
While sadly moaned the sleeping stream,—
It dreamed the little lad was drowned.