WHAT saith the river to the rushes grey, Rushes sadly bending, River slowly wending? Who can tell the whisper'd things they say? Youth, and prime, and life, and time, For ever, ever fled away! Drop your wither'd garlands in the stream, Low autumnal branches, Round the skiff that launches Wavering downward through the lands of dream. Ever, ever fled away! This the burden, this the theme. What saith the river to the rushes grey, Rushes sadly bending, River slowly wending? It is near the closing of the day. Near the night. Life and light For ever, ever fled away! Draw him tideward down; but not in haste. Mouldering daylight lingers; Night with her cold fingers Sprinkles moonbeams on the dim sea-waste. Ever, ever fled away! Vainly cherish'd! vainly chased! What saith the river to the rushes grey, Rushes sadly bending, River slowly wending? Where in darkest glooms his bed we lay, Up the cave moans the wave, For ever, ever, ever fled away! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...QUESTION by GEORGIA DOUGLAS JOHNSON THE GREAT FIGURE by WILLIAM CARLOS WILLIAMS SONNETS OF MANHOOD: 44. ISEULT by GEORGE BARLOW (1847-1913) WHAT SAID THE LITTLE ADMIRAL? by WILLIAM ROSE BENET VERSES WRITTEN UNDER FERGUSSON'S PORTRAIT by ROBERT BURNS |