HAPPILY through my years this small stream ran; It charmed the boy, and purified the man; Its hollowed banks were my romantic caves, Its winter tumults made my ocean waves. I had no gold, nor silver overmuch, But what its sunny falls disclosed as such, And wished no gem, when eyes could here be bright With the kingfisher's sapphire beam of flight, Or the pearl shield that tilting fish below Through arras of blue water-mosses show. What need for templed lotus, when our stream Enthroned the yellow lily? here the dream Of placid Buddha might be as secure; Visitant wings there were that loved the lure. With all my years this pretty stream sang on. I brought one here to praise it; who is gone, Yet in that crystal soul her mirrored face With foxgloves looking in still finds a place. Even the Muse's "melody unheard" For me is woven with this water's word, Since here I sat to read immortal song; The ripple played to that, nor answered wrong. All that deep-sighing elegy might mourn, Glad lyric hail, and sonnet-thought adorn, The changeful rivulet from stone to stone Enchanted into anthems of its own. My travel then! my wealth, my dream, my love, True Golden Treasury and Golden Grove! Accept one weakness, let one pale shade cling Where with so strong a life you run and sing. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE TEACHER by LESLIE PINCKNEY HILL THE LAST CHANTEY by RUDYARD KIPLING ANDROMEDA by THOMAS BAILEY ALDRICH A SESTINA, IN IMITAION OF SIG. FRA. PETRARCA by PHILIP AYRES RIDDLE by ANNA LETITIA BARBAULD SORROWS AND CONSOLATIONS by ANNA LETITIA BARBAULD |