ONCE, on the river banks we knew, A child, who laughing ran to choose A lily there, essayed to tread The lawn of leaves that outward spread To where the very fairest blew, And slipped from love and life and light, Into the shiny depth beneath; While through the tangle and the ooze Up bubbled all his little breath. Above, the lilies calmly white Were floating still at eventide, When, as it chanced, a boat went down Returning to the royal town, Wherein a noble lady lay Among the cushions dreamily, Who leant above the gilded side And plucked the flower carelessly, And wore it at the ball that night. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...REVELATION by LOUIS UNTERMEYER ON LORD HOLLAND'S SEAT NEAR MARGATE, KENT by THOMAS GRAY AUF WIEDERSEHEN! SUMMER by JAMES RUSSELL LOWELL THE BATTLE OF NASEBY by THOMAS BABINGTON MACAULAY ODES I, 38. AD MINISTRAM by QUINTUS HORATIUS FLACCUS THE VOICE IN THE GLOAMING by WILLIAM ALLAN THE TWO ARCHERS by THOMAS LOVELL BEDDOES DEATH OF CHILDHOOD BELIEFS by EDMUND CHARLES BLUNDEN THE ELDER WOMAN'S SONG: 4, FR. KING LEAR'S WIFE by GORDON BOTTOMLEY |