BORDERLAND

AND have you been to Borderland? Its country lies on either hand Beyond the river I-forget. One crosses by a single stone So narrow one must pass alone, And all about its waters fret— The laughing river I-forget. Beneath the trees of Borderland One seems to know and understand, Beside the river I-forget, All languages of men and birds; And all the sweet, unspoken words One ever missed are murmured yet By that sweet river I-forget. One hears there many things afar From cities where strange peoples are, Beyond the river I-forget; And stranger things are in the air, But what they are one does not care, For Hope lies sleeping and Regret Beside the river I-forget. Some day together hand in hand I’ll take you there to Borderland, Beyond the river I-forget; Some day when all our dreams come true, One kiss for me and one for you, We’ll watch the red sun sink and set Across the river I-forget. Herman Knickerbocker Vielé.