The Hills of Little Cornwall

    The hills of little Cornwall

    Themselves are dreams.

    The mind lies down among them，

    Even by day， and snores，

    Snug¹ in the perilous² knowledge

    That nothing more inward pleasing，

    More like itself，

    Sleeps anywhere beyond them

    Even by night

    In the great land it cares two pins about，

    Possibly； not more.

    The mind， eager for caresses³，

    Lies down at its own risk in Cornwall；

    Whose hills，

    Whose cunning streams，

    Whose mazes⁴ where a thought，

    Doubling upon itself，

    Considers the way， lazily， well lost，

    Indulge it to the nick of death——

    Not quite， for where it curls it still can feel，

    Like feathers，

    Like affectionate mouse whiskers，

    The flattery， the trap.