RIVER! my river in the young sunshine! Oh, clasp afresh in thine embrace This longing, burning frame of mine, And kiss my breast, and kiss my face! So -- there! -- Ha, ha! -- already in thine arms! I feel thy love -- I shout -- I shiver; But thou outlaughest loud a flouting song, proud river, And now again my bosom warms! The droplets of the golden sunlight glide Over and off me, sparkling, as I swim Hither and thither down thy mellow tide, Or loll amid its crypts with outstretched limb; I fling abroad my arms, and lo! Thy wanton waves curl slyly round me; But ere their loose chains have well bound me, Again they burst away and let me go! O sun-loved river! wherefore dost thou hum, Hum, hum alway, thy strange, deep, mystic song Unto the rocks and strands? -- for they are dumb, And answer nothing as thou flowest along, Why singest so all hours of night and day? Ah, river! my best river! thou, I guess, art seeking Some land where souls have still the gift of speaking With nature in her own old wondrous way! Lo! highest heaven looms far below me here; I see it in thy waters, as they roll, So beautiful, so blue, so clear, 'T would seem, O river mine, to be thy very soul! Oh, could I hence dive down to such a sky, Might I but bathe my spirit in that glory, So far outshining all in ancient fairy story, I would indeed have joy to die! What on cold earth is deep as thou? Is aught? Love is as deep, love only is as deep: Love lavisheth all, yet loseth, lacketh naught; Like thee, too, love can neither pause nor sleep. Roll on, thou loving river, thou! Lift up Thy waves, those eyes bright with a riotous laughing! Thou makest me immortal! I am quaffing The wine of rapture from no earthly cup! At last thou bearest me, with soothing tone, Back to thy bank of rosy flowers: Thanks, then, and fare thee well! Enjoy thy bliss alone! And through the year's melodious hours Echo forever from thy bosom broad All glorious tales that sun and moon be telling: And woo down to their soundless fountain dwelling The holy stars of God! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...COLOGNE; EPIGRAM by SAMUEL TAYLOR COLERIDGE LITTLE SNAIL by HILDA CONKLING COBWEBS by CHRISTINA GEORGINA ROSSETTI THE GLORIOUS TOUCHDOWN by GEORGE ADE TRAVELLER BY NIGHT, SELECTION by JOANNA BAILLIE |