Clarence Michael James Stanislaus Dennis - A Forest Scene lyrics

As I went down a forest place At the closing of the year To find me peace, and gather grace In this green gladness here. I saw a scene I knew of old, In many a year gone by A loveliness to have and hold Here, with the gully waters cold, And the bland, blue peeping sky. And I saw the blue wrens trooping near, And I heard the thrushes call, And found surcease from worldly fear For a peace was over all. And my mind went back to long ago, For here was a scene I knew Where the gums and ancient tree ferns grow, And the ever-lasting waters flow, And life yields little new. And I thought of the world - of the world of men, Who ever seek them change, And haste, and hectic, haste again To a goal beyond their range. And I heard the thrush and the blue wren there Fluting their songs of glee For them this world was pa**ing fair, And they found content and gladness there. Why came not peace to me? Then I saw life, as men see life I who am but a man; And I dreamed of a scene devoid of strife, Built on the good God's plan. And I came me back from that forest place, With a dream to have and hold, Of men with naught but life to face, Of men grown young in simple grace, And the birds and the bush grown old!