Farewell to the Farm

The coach is at the door at last; 
The eager children, mounting fast
 And kissing hands, in chorus sing: 
Good-bye, good-bye, to everything!

 To house and garden, field and lawn, 
The meadow-gates we swang upon, 
To pump and stable, tree and swing, 
Good-bye, good-bye, to everything! 

 And fare you well for evermore, 
O ladder at the hayloft door, 
O hayloft where the cobwebs cling, 
Good-bye, good-bye, to everything! 

 Crack goes the whip, and off we go; 
The trees and houses smaller grow; 
Last, round the woody turn we sing:
 Good-bye, good-bye, to everything!


Robert Louis Stevenson