Sounding above the warring of the years, Over their stretch of toil and pain and fears, Comes the well-loved refrain, The ancient voice again. Sweeter than when, beside the river's marge, We lay and watched, like innocence at large, The cheerful waters flow, Speaks this brave music now. Tender as sunlight upon childhood's head, Serene as moonlight upon childhood's bed, Comes the remembered power Of that long-vanished hour. The river ran with merry voice and low, The gentle ripples rippling far below, Talked with no idle voice, Though idling were their choice. Now through the tumult and the pride of life, Gentler, yet firmly soothing all its strife, Nature draws near once more And knocks at the world's door: She walks within her wild harmonious maze, Weaving her melodies from doubt and haze, And leaves us free from care Like children standing there. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...EFFIGY OF A NUN (SIXTEENTH CENTURY) by SARA TEASDALE SICILIAN EMIGRANT'S SONG by WILLIAM CARLOS WILLIAMS THIRD BOOK OF AIRS: SONG 12 by THOMAS CAMPION ASKING FOR ROSES by ROBERT FROST CATTLE SHOW by CHRISTOPHER MURRAY GRIEVE THE TEMPER (1) by GEORGE HERBERT THE THIRD OF FEBRUARY, 1852 by ALFRED TENNYSON THE WINDOW; OR, THE SONG OF THE WRENS: MARRIAGE MORNING by ALFRED TENNYSON |