Among those mountain-skirts a league away Lough Braccan spread, with many a silver bay And islet green; a dark cliff, tall and bold, Half-muffled in its cloak of ivy old, Bastion'd the southern brink, beside a glen Where birch and hazel hid the badger's den, And through the moist ferns and firm hollies play'd A rapid rivulet from light to shade. Above the glen, and wood, and cliff, was seen, Majestically simple and serene, Like some great soul above the various crowd, A purple mountain-top, at times in cloud Or mist, as in celestial veils of thought, Abstracted heavenward. Creeps a little boat Along the path of evening's golden smile, To where the shatter'd castle on its isle May seem a broad-wing'd ship; two massive tow'rs Lifted against the yellow light that pours On half the lough and sloping fields,—half-laid, Creek, bush, and crag, within the mountain shade. Dark bramble-leaves now show a curling fringe, And 'sallies' wear the first autumnal tinge; With speckled plumes high wave the crowded reeds, Amongst whose watery stems the mallard feeds. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...O GLORIOUS FRANCE by EDGAR LEE MASTERS NOVEMBER STARS by SARA TEASDALE THE MERRY SUMMER MONTHS by WILLIAM MOTHERWELL IDYLLS OF THE KING: GARETH AND LYNETTE by ALFRED TENNYSON YOU LINGERING SPARSE LEAVES OF ME by WALT WHITMAN |